In a significant escalation of tensions in Jerusalem, Israeli police arrested Sheikh Mohammed al-Abbasi, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, from inside the mosque's courtyards on February 16, 2026, just days before the start of Ramadan. This arrest has been condemned by Hamas as a 'blatant interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa' and an 'unacceptable assault on its imams.' As Ramadan commenced on February 18, Israeli authorities tightened restrictions on Palestinian worshippers, allowing only 10,000 individuals from the occupied West Bank to attend Friday prayers, with entry limited to men aged 55 and older, women aged 50 and older, and children up to age 12. These measures are perceived as an attempt to control access to the mosque during a time when hundreds of thousands typically gather for prayer.