For the fifth consecutive day: The Israeli occupation continues to close Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

For the fifth consecutive day, the Israeli occupation continues to impose a total closure on Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as shutting down the Old City to all visitors except its residents.

Jerusalem Governorate reported that scattered Israeli assaults have resulted in five Palestinians from Jerusalem being injured by live bullets in the towns of At-Tur, Beir Nabala, and Al-Ram.

Meanwhile, the occupation allowed settlers to perform religious rituals near Al-Aqsa Mosque and intensified daily raids into towns and neighborhoods around Jerusalem, amid a heavy military presence at dozens of checkpoints, gates, and along the separation wall.

Under the pretext of an ongoing "state of emergency" since last Friday, the occupation has barred worshippers—including Old City residents—from entering any part of Al-Aqsa Mosque, whether indoor prayer halls or open courtyards, and from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Most shops in the Old City have also been shut down, with only essential goods stores allowed to operate.

Last night, Israeli rabbis and soldiers blew shofars (ram's horns) beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque, at the northeastern corner of the Buraq Wall plaza, in what they described as support for occupation soldiers. In another scene filmed yesterday, settlers held prayers inside the "Wilson’s Arch" synagogue near the Umm al-Banat bridge west of Al-Aqsa. Meanwhile, settlers promoted the sale of floor stones from the Wall area at a price of 189 shekels per stone, marking the 58th anniversary of its occupation.

In the Har Dov neighborhood of At-Tur, an Israeli sniper fired four live rounds at Iyass (12 years old) and Odai (22 years old) as they stood outside their home. Iyass was shot in the hand, while a bullet lodged in Odai's back, and a third individual was also injured. Later, the occupation forces fired flares during a raid on the town after midnight.

Raids also extended to the Ein al-Louza neighborhood in Silwan, where a young man was arrested after several homes were stormed and youths were detained in the area. A military checkpoint was simultaneously erected at Wadi al-Rababa.

Israeli forces also raided Shuafat refugee camp, searched a home in Issawiya, and closed the entrance to Al-Ram after storming the Al-Qubbat suburb. They further raided the towns of Hizma and Al-Eizariya. Two more young men were injured by live ammunition in Beir Nabala and Al-Ram and were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Amid growing security tensions and repeated sirens sounding in Jerusalem, most Palestinian residents lack access to safe rooms or "reinforced shelters" in their homes—the only protection against bombardment. Experts agree that the occupation authorities’ announcement of opening schools and public institutions for use as shelters is largely performative; many of these buildings, according to local residents and engineers, are either structurally unsound or unfit to host civilians. They are insufficient in capacity and do not meet minimum safety standards.

In a parallel scene of internal siege, the occupation authorities have encircled the city of Jerusalem with 84 barriers, including permanent military checkpoints, earth mounds, gates, and separation wall fortifications. These severely hinder movement, cut Jerusalem off from its Palestinian surroundings in the West Bank, and serve as daily tools of oppression through searches, detentions, and restrictions on passage.