Al-Aqsa Mosque reopens after 40-day closure as hundreds gather for dawn prayers

JERUSALEM: Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem reopened on Thursday after Israel had kept the site closed for 40 days, with hundreds of Palestinian Muslims entering the Al-Haram al-Sharif compound at dawn.

The mosque, situated in Jerusalem’s Old City, was opened as the morning call to prayer began. Large crowds of worshippers moved into the compound soon after the gates were reopened.

Many of those arriving at the site were seen weeping, while others performed prostrations of gratitude in the courtyards of the mosque following the reopening.

Images from the compound showed worshippers gathered near the Dome of the Rock for fajr prayers on April 9, 2026. Photographs also showed worshippers praying in front of the shrine and using their phones or taking pictures as they arrived for early morning prayers.

The reopening came following a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war. Captions accompanying the images referred to the Al-Aqsa compound as also being known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Worshippers return to the compound

Visuals published from the site showed large numbers of people assembled near the Dome of the Rock during dawn prayers in Jerusalem. The reopening marked the first access to the mosque after weeks of closure.

Several images documented worshippers praying across the compound, while one photograph showed a Muslim woman at the site after the reopening. Other images captured people taking photographs in front of the Dome of the Rock as they entered for prayers.

the reopening as taking place at dawn on Thursday, when hundreds of Palestinian Muslims were allowed to enter the compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

Site reopened at dawn

The reopening of Al-Aqsa Mosque followed a 40-day shutdown imposed by Israel. As the gates opened, worshippers streamed into the compound in significant numbers for the dawn prayer.

The scenes from Jerusalem showed an emotional response among many attendees, with some breaking into tears and others offering سجود of thanks in the courtyards after regaining access to the mosque.

The published photographs, credited to AFP and Reuters, showed repeated scenes of worshippers gathered near the Dome of the Rock and praying inside the Al-Aqsa compound on April 9, 2026.

The development marked the reopening of one of Islam’s holiest sites after an extended closure, with hundreds attending the first dawn prayers after access was restored.