April 2026 in the city of Jerusalem
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center – Jerusalem released its April monthly report, highlighting the key Israeli events and violations in Jerusalem.
During the first week of the month, the Israeli-American conflict with Iran continued, leading to a state of emergency in the country. This caused the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, accompanied by sirens and explosions in Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa Mosque… From closure to incursion… Continuous escalation of violations
On April 9, the Al-Aqsa Mosque reopened at dawn following a 40-day closure under the guise of a state of emergency. This reopening occurred one day after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
On its first day of reopening, tens of thousands of worshippers from Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories came to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Immediately after opening, groups of settlers again stormed the mosque through the Dung Gate, whose keys have been controlled by occupation authorities since Jerusalem was occupied. Violations inside the mosque also resumed, including an increase in intruders, public and group prayers, and preventing Muslims from being present or sitting along the intrusion routes.
The incursion times have been extended to run from 6:30 AM to 11:30 AM and from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM. This increases the total daily duration to about six and a half hours, with the start time moved earlier by half an hour.
On the first day of Al-Aqsa Mosque's reopening, around 20 Palestinians, including women, children, and young men, were detained and assaulted. Most were later released with a ban from re-entering the mosque.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported that the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been closed nine times on Fridays since 1967 due to orders from the Israeli authorities.
The closures happened at different times: the first was in 1967 after Jerusalem was occupied; then in 2017 following a shooting inside the mosque and an attempt to install electronic gates. In 2025, there were two closures linked to the Israeli conflict with Iran. The most extensive closures occurred between March and April 2026, during the US-Israeli war on Iran, affecting several consecutive Fridays, including the third and fourth Fridays of Ramadan and the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
This was preceded by the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when the Islamic Endowment Council in Jerusalem decided not to hold the four Friday prayers during Ramadan as a preventive measure.
Notable incursions
In April, there were notable rises in incursion numbers, especially on:
• April 22, 2026: 632 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, coinciding with what is known as "Independence Day," the day Israel was declared 78 years ago according to the Hebrew calendar, also marking the anniversary of the Nakba.
• April 9, 2026 (Reopening Day): 488 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
• April 21, 2026: 233 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, coinciding with what is called "Memorial Day for the Fallen of the Wars."
The most prominent violations during the incursions
During the April incursions, hundreds of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and it was stormed twice by the Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. Al-Aqsa witnessed a series of violations, including group and public prayers in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, chanting the Israeli national anthem, and what is known as "collective prostration" in the courtyards. The violations also included organizing dance and singing circles, especially on the eastern side near the Bab al-Rahma prayer area, and chanting religious hymns along the western path with frequent stops. They also included raising Israeli flags inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and wearing clothes bearing symbols, flags, and pictures of the so-called alleged "Temple".
Itamar Ben-Gvir and the incursions
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque twice in April. The first incursion occurred during the war, and the second on April 12, 2026, accompanied by dozens of settlers, through the Dung Gate.
Ben-Gvir has continued his frequent incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque since assuming his position in early 2023. This marks his 16th incursion, according to documentation by the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, distributed as follows:
• 3 incursions in 2023
• 4 incursions in 2024
• 6 incursions in 2025
• 3 incursions in 2026 (including one in January, one during the closure of Al-Aqsa during the war, and one in April).
Open escalation
On April 20, 2026, the call to Ishaa prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque was restricted to internal loudspeakers inside the prayer halls after Israeli police prevented the use of minarets and external loudspeakers. This occurred during a ceremony at the Al-Buraq Wall honoring what is called "Memorial Day for Soldiers Killed in Wars and Operations." During the event, police entered the sound room inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and damaged parts of the wiring for the loudspeakers, directly impairing the call to prayer broadcast.
In late April, extremist groups on the Temple Mount released extended versions of "prayer texts" for use during incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque. This occurred three months after they first introduced an initial set of religious texts—comprising written instructions and guidance—for the mosque.
Knesset Member Amit Halevy urged the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in the occupation government to permit settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, May 15, 2026, aligning with the so-called "Flag March" during "Jerusalem Day," which marks the occupation of eastern Jerusalem.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher: Reopening under strict restrictions and attacks during Holy Saturday
In April, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher reopened following a 40-day closure caused by the state of emergency related to the war. This period of closure coincided with the Easter season and its rituals, which prevented thousands of Christians from attending services and masses.
Upon reopening, the Israeli occupation authorities enforced strict access restrictions on the church, especially during Holy Saturday. The vicinity of the church in the Old City was turned into a near-military zone, with metal barriers and additional police forces at the entrances to the Old City and along the roads and alleys leading to it. These measures delayed hundreds of worshippers, who had to wait for hours behind checkpoints.
Some entrances were entirely closed, and the areas around the checkpoints were congested with worshippers. Reports indicated attacks inside the church, nearby areas, and at the checkpoints, along with the detention of several young men. The usual Holy Saturday procession was also unable to reach the church, highlighting ongoing restrictions on religious practices despite the site's reopening.
Al-Bustan neighborhood: Transitioning from threats to on-site implementation
In April, the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan saw a sharp increase in ground activity as the occupation authorities shifted from issuing threats and carrying out demolitions to directly confiscating land and conducting bulldozing operations. This is part of the "Al-Bustan Neighborhood" plan, approved in 2004, which intends to demolish the entire neighborhood to make way for the "King's Garden" project. Demolition notices started being issued in 2005, but the plan was later paused due to international pressure and human rights campaigns.
For over twenty years, residents' efforts to suggest alternative zoning plans that would ensure their continued residence and access to public facilities have been consistently rejected. The freeze orders were not renewed in 2021, which many saw as paving the way for the plan's gradual revival. According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem, the Al-Bustan neighborhood has around 100 homes, more than half of which have been demolished—either by municipal authorities or through forced self-demolition under pressure. The demolition activity has recently intensified, with over 55 homes destroyed since the end of 2023.
In April, demolition and land-clearing activities increased noticeably, indicating the plan's progressing execution and its shift from a mere threat to a tangible reality on the ground.
Demolition and displacement
In April 2026, Israeli occupation authorities persisted in demolitions and displacements in Jerusalem, claiming these actions were due to "building without a permit.' This reflects a systematic effort to diminish the Palestinian presence in the city.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem recorded the demolition of 26 structures, mostly long-standing inhabited homes. These demolitions mainly occurred in Silwan, especially in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, as well as in Jabal al-Mukabber, Al-Sowaneh, and the Old City of Jerusalem.
The center explained that homeowners mostly carried out the demolitions themselves to avoid hefty fines, demolition costs, or potential damage to neighboring houses.
Deportations continue
Deportation orders persisted throughout April, continuing an ongoing two-month campaign. This effort intensified markedly after Al-Aqsa Mosque reopened following its closure during the war. From the moment the mosque reopened, arrests and summonses were made inside the courtyards and at the gates, targeting women, men, and youth from Jerusalem and Palestinian territories within Israel. Those detained received expulsion orders valid for one week, with the possibility of renewal.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem recorded 95 expulsion orders, with durations from one week to six months. These usually start with an initial one-week ban, which is then extended for periods between four and six months. The orders restrict access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Old City, Jerusalem, and specific streets within Jerusalem.
Persecution of religious figures
On April 17, the Israeli occupation police prevented Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the imam and preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, from entering despite the expiry of his nearly two-year ban. He was attempting to reach the mosque to lead Friday prayers, continuing their policy to persecute and restrict Palestinian religious figures and leaders.
In late April, police summoned Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal Khatib from the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948 for questioning at the "Al-Qishla" police station in Nazareth. They issued orders banning them from entering for one week, with the potential for extensions lasting several months.
Arrests
During April 2026, the occupation authorities continued to carry out daily arrest campaigns in Jerusalem, targeting children, teenagers, women, and the elderly, in addition to dozens of West Bank ID holders, under the pretext of "illegal residency."
During that month, arrests in Jerusalem surpassed 250, involving women, teenagers, the elderly, and hundreds of West Bank ID holders. A major campaign was conducted in northern Jerusalem.
In April, the areas north of Jerusalem, especially Qalandia and its refugee camp, Kafr Aqab, and al-Ram, experienced extensive raids. These operations involved entering dozens of homes, arresting many young Palestinians, and conducting searches that often led to vandalism. Some homes were turned into military bases, detention centers, or interrogation sites. Residents faced harsh conditions: young men were handcuffed and blindfolded, the elderly were detained for long periods without basic needs, and communication with the outside world was cut off through phone confiscations. Many young men were forced to walk handcuffed in lines before some were released. The invasions also caused property damage, including at a UNRWA clinic. Residents were fined, and a major road in al-Ram was blocked with earth mounds and concrete barriers.
Miscellaneous
In April, the Israeli Public Prosecution told the Supreme Court that the body of 14-year-old Wadi’ Shadi Alayan, who was martyred, had been buried in the "numbers cemeteries" about six months earlier. This was in response to a court petition, with the prosecution confirming that the burial occurred on October 29, 2025.
Alayan was shot and killed by Border Police officers at the entrance to Al-Eizariya, east of Jerusalem, on February 5, 2024. Video footage captured him being shot while he was lying on the ground.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem stated that the occupation authorities are still holding the bodies of 30 Jerusalemite martyrs with Israeli identity cards. The oldest has been detained since October 2016. Among them, ten are children, and Wadi’ Alayan is the youngest.
In late April 2026, a settler attacked a 48-year-old French nun working with church organizations in Jerusalem as she walked near the Tomb of David on Mount Zion, close to the Old City. Surveillance footage showed the settler chasing her, pushing her to the ground, and kicking her several times while she was down, resulting in a facial injury and bruises.
On April 30, 2026, in Shu’fat refugee camp, Israeli forces detained 14-year-old Mahdi al-Arabi, who has Down syndrome. He was walking with his brother when they were suddenly chased, detained, and assaulted for roughly 15 minutes. His brother tried to intervene and was also injured, sustaining a facial wound that needed medical attention. The incident caused Mahdi psychological trauma.
On April 20, the Jerusalem District Planning Committee approved a plan to create a large Haredi yeshiva named "Or Sumiach" in Sheikh Jarrah. The proposal involves developing roughly five dunams of land designated as "absentee property." It features an 11-story structure with dormitories to accommodate hundreds of Haredi Jewish students, along with housing for staff members.
The Israeli occupation authorities have imposed a ban on Palestinian food products, especially dairy and processed meats, from entering East Jerusalem. This action is seen as a new escalation in the economic pressure on Palestinians. The Palestinian Federation of Food and Agricultural Industries condemned the decision, calling it a violation of Palestinian economic and national rights, and a breach of the free movement of goods outlined in the Paris Economic Protocol.
