Israel briefly closes Al-Aqsa gate for military drills

Israel briefly closes Al-Aqsa gate for military drills Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 10:35 Closure is the latest in a series of escalating Israeli restrictions at the Jerusalem holy site Palestinians walk near the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, 23 June 2026 (Ammar Awad/Reuters) Off Israeli forces briefly closed one of the gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, citing military exercises. The Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem Governorate said the drills were carried out in the mosque's courtyards and lasted around 30 minutes. Although only the King Faisal Gate was shut, the governorate said Israeli forces imposed heightened security measures at the complex's other entrances, disrupting worshippers' access.