Israeli Police to Mount Round-the-Clock Guard at Al-Aqsa Compound During Ramadan

Israeli police have said they will deploy a major force around the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan, with patrols beginning this week.

As reported by AFP on Wednesday (18/2/2026), a senior Jerusalem police officer, Arad Braverman, said forces would be deployed “day and night” across the entire compound — known to Jews as the Temple Mount — and in surrounding areas.

He said thousands of police officers would also be on duty for Friday prayers, which draw the largest number of Muslim worshippers.

Braverman said police had recommended the issuance of 10,000 permits for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank, who require special authorisation to enter Jerusalem. Regarding these permits, he did not say whether age restrictions would apply, but stated the number of people would be determined by the government.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority said in a separate statement that it had been informed permits would again be restricted to men over 55 and women over 50, mirroring last year’s criteria.

It said Israeli authorities had prevented the Islamic Waqf — the Jordanian-administered body that manages the site — from carrying out routine preparations, including installing shade structures and setting up temporary medical clinics.

A Waqf source confirmed the restrictions and said 33 of its employees had been barred from entering the compound in the week before Ramadan.

The Al-Aqsa compound is a central symbol of Palestinian identity and frequently serves as a flashpoint for conflict.