Muslims pray near closed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Ramadan holy night

Muslims gathered in the streets outside Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray and mark Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night of Ramadan when Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed. The worshippers were forced to pray outside because the mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City was closed to them. Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam's third-holiest site and a focal point of Palestinian religious and national identity, making access restrictions particularly significant during major Islamic observances. The closure prevented thousands of faithful from performing their traditional prayers inside the mosque during one of the most sacred nights of the Islamic calendar. This situation reflects ongoing tensions over access to religious sites in Jerusalem, where control and worship rights remain contentious issues between Israelis and Palestinians.