Israel to restrict Muslims' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said Israel will slap restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan according to “security needs”.

The Al-Aqsa compound, the third holiest site in the world for Muslims, sits atop a hill in the Old City. The site is also revered by Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.

Restrictions on access to the site have long caused friction, particularly around religious holidays such as Ramadan, which will begin about March 10 this year.

His office gave no further details.

Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs the Gaza Strip, denounced the planned restrictions and urged Palestinians to mobilise against them.

It described the restrictions as “a continuation of Zionist criminality and religious warfare led by the extremist settlers group in the terrorist occupation government against our Palestinian people”.

The group called on Palestinians in Israel, Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank to “reject this criminal decision, resist the occupation’s arrogance and insolence, and mobilise to stand firm and steadfast in Al-Aqsa Mosque”.

Israel often sets rules to limit the number of worshippers at the site, citing security reasons.

Israeli forces have previously undertaken violent raids at the site during Ramadan.