By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN on Friday reported Israeli restrictions in occupied Palestinian territories, which are blocking Palestinian worshipers from reaching holy sites on the first Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Saying that the Israeli forces' continued operations in the northern occupied West Bank "have a dire humanitarian impact," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference that Israel's "demolitions in the Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps are taking place while most of the camps' residents -- tens of thousands of people -- are displaced and unable to return."
"Those displaced are staying in public shelters in Jenin and Tulkarm," he said, stressing that people are lacking necessities like water and medicine.
The situation has also affected children, who have been unable to attend school since January, he said.
"We and our partners have been providing life-saving assistance to affected people," Dujarric affirmed.
Emphasizing that Israel's "access to restrictions continue to hinder Palestinians’ movement across the West Bank," Dujarric said: "Today is the first Friday of Ramadan, as you know, and access restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities have prevented thousands of Palestinian worshipers from reaching holy sites."
Dujarric noted that Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) teams are monitoring the situation, focusing on vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
"Initial information indicates fewer people crossed and fewer checkpoints opened this year, compared with Fridays in 2024," he said.
On Thursday, Israeli police announced that 3,000 officers would be stationed across East Jerusalem on Friday.
Israeli authorities also imposed severe restrictions on worshipers from the occupied West Bank attempting to reach Jerusalem.
Witnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army prevented tens of thousands of Palestinians from crossing military checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
On Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that only men over 55, women over 50 and children under 12 would be allowed to enter the mosque. Worshipers were also required to obtain prior security clearance and undergo extensive checks at designated crossings.
Despite the measures, Palestinians from Jerusalem and Arab towns inside Israel made their way to the mosque. Volunteer groups, including Al-Aqsa guards, scouts and security teams, assisted worshipers.
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have imposed strict measures limiting Palestinians’ access from the occupied West Bank to East Jerusalem.
Palestinians consider the restrictions part of Israel’s broader efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.