Jerusalem, MINA – Israeli occupation forces stormed a mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City on Sunday evening, expelling worshippers and preventing them from performing Isha and Tarawih prayers, as the government extended a nationwide state of emergency for an additional 12 days amid escalating regional tensions, PIC reports.
According to local sources, Israeli police forces entered Sheikh Lulu Mosque shortly before the call to evening prayer, ordering worshippers to leave and barring all congregational prayers, including the special Ramadan Tarawih prayers that hold particular significance during the holy month.
The incident represents what Palestinians describe as an ongoing policy of systematic restrictions targeting places of worship in occupied Jerusalem, particularly during Ramadan when Muslim attendance at religious sites traditionally increases.
The expulsion from Sheikh Lulu Mosque coincided with the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for a second consecutive day under emergency regulations. Since Saturday evening, Israeli authorities have fully sealed the compound, forcing worshippers to leave immediately following the announcement of emergency measures after Israel’s military strike on Iran.
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Security forces have imposed tight restrictions throughout the Old City and at its entrances, further limiting movement and access to religious sites for Palestinian worshippers during the holy month.
Israeli media reported that the government approved an extension of the nationwide state of emergency on the home front through March 12, following what Channel 13 described as a comprehensive security assessment.
The emergency order grants the military expanded powers, including authority to close specific areas and direct residents in high-risk zones to remain near shelters amid concerns over potential Iranian rocket fire in retaliation for recent strikes.
The extension follows the joint Israeli-US strike on Iran carried out Saturday, which took place during ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington and has significantly heightened tensions across the region. The military action has raised fears of a broader conflict that could draw in multiple countries and further destabilize the Middle East.[]
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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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