Ramadan’s first Friday prayers are held at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque

Ramadan’s first Friday prayers are held at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque 1 of 7 | Palestinians hold first Ramadan prayers at school-turned shelter in Gaza City 2 of 7 | It’s a far cry from the first day of Ramadan before the war when the al-Zamli family celebrated with sweets and proper lanterns. Ramadan has arrived in Gaza under a fragile ceasefire deal. 3 of 7 | Israeli soldiers stand guard as Palestinian worshippers line up to pass through the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on their way to attend Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) 4 of 7 | Palestinian worshippers pass through the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on their way to attend Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) 5 of 7 | Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) 6 of 7 | A Muslim worshipper prays outside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) 7 of 7 | Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) 1 of 7 Palestinians hold first Ramadan prayers at school-turned shelter in Gaza City Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 2 of 7 It’s a far cry from the first day of Ramadan before the war when the al-Zamli family celebrated with sweets and proper lanterns. Ramadan has arrived in Gaza under a fragile ceasefire deal. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 3 of 7 Israeli soldiers stand guard as Palestinian worshippers line up to pass through the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on their way to attend Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 4 of 7 Palestinian worshippers pass through the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on their way to attend Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 5 of 7 Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 6 of 7 A Muslim worshipper prays outside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 7 of 7 Muslim worshippers offer prayer on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered under heavy Israeli restrictions at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including some who were allowed to enter from the occupied West Bank.The Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa took place for the first time since a shaky ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect in October. It was the first opportunity many had to leave the West Bank and pray at the site in Jerusalem’s Old City since Ramadan last year.Israel restricted the number of Palestinians allowed to enter from the West Bank to 10,000 on Friday, and only allowed men over 55 and women over 50 as well as children up to 12. It has imposed similar restrictions in the past, citing security concerns. A frequent flashpointThe hilltop, which Jews refer to as the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to the ancient biblical temples. Muslims call the site the Noble Sanctuary. Today it is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.It has frequently been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Israeli police said more than 3,000 police were deployed across Jerusalem. They said their presence was not meant to show aggression or force but was aimed at providing help in case of an emergency.Many Palestinians view the heightened Israeli security presence, and increasing visits by religious and nationalist Israeli Jews, as a provocation. They fear that Israel intends to take over or partition the compound. The Israeli government denies having any such plans. Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian religious authority that administers the compound, said there were 80,000 in attendance. In normal times, Ramadan Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa can draw up to 200,000. Ezaldeen Mustafah, a Palestinian from the West Bank, was among those lamenting the restrictions. “We need more people than this,” he said.Some Palestinians from the West Bank on Friday said they were turned away from crossing into Jerusalem even though they had permits. Jihad Bisharat said he was told his permit had been canceled and was sent back. Israel’s army didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.The Old City, home to major religious sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, is in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians want all three territories for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem. Israel annexed east Jerusalem, a move not recognized by most of the international community, and considers the entire city to be its capital. Ramadan in GazaMany Palestinians said the month’s typically festive spirit is eluding them as they struggle with grief and losses following two years of conflict in Gaza sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel.“All the mosques have been bombed,” said Ramiz Firwana, a Gaza resident who gathered with other worshippers for a Friday sermon and prayers held in schoolyard.On Thursday evening, families sat amid the rubble and destruction for iftar, the meal held at the end of the daily dawn-to-dusk fast.“Despite the displacement, the pain and the destruction, we want to rejoice and live,” said Mohammad Kollab, from Khan Younis. “We are not a people destined only for destruction and killing.”Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and caused widespread destruction and displaced most of the territory’s residents. Israel launched the offensive after Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostage in the initial attack.The Oct. 10 U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal has brought an end to major military operations and the release of the remaining hostages. But Palestinians, including many civilians, are still being killed in near-daily strikes that Israel says are aimed at militants who threaten or attack its forces.___Associated Press reporters Sam Metz contributed from Ramallah, West Bank, and Wafaa Shurafa from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Mednick is an AP correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She focuses on conflict, humanitarian crises and human rights abuses. Mednick formerly covered West & Central Africa and South Sudan.