Video: Missile Hits Near Al-Aqsa On Eid, Hundreds Forced To Pray Outside Jerusalem’s Old City

An Iranian missile landed in Jerusalem during Eid al-Fitr, striking just a few hundred metres from the Al-Aqsa Mosque and sending shockwaves through one of the city's most sensitive religious zones.

The incident unfolded as hundreds of Muslim worshippers were prevented from entering the Old City and forced to offer Eid prayers outside locked gates, marking what researchers say is the first such closure of Al-Aqsa during the festival since Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967.

Missile Strike Near Jerusalem's Holiest Religious Sites

Israel said on Saturday that an Iranian missile struck Jerusalem during Eid al-Fitr celebrations, landing close to some of the most sacred sites for Muslims, Christians and Jews.

"An Iranian missile struck Jerusalem during Eid al-Fitr, a few hundred meters from the holiest sites for Muslims, Christians and Jews. This is the true face of the Mullahs' so-called 'religious' regime," the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X.

The strike followed an earlier incident on Friday, when an explosion carved out a crater on a hillside just inside Jerusalem's Old City after warnings of incoming Iranian missiles. Debris was scattered across a nearby road, heightening alarm in an already tense city during one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar.

IDF Says Missile Fragments Hit Near Temple Mount

The Israeli military said the impact was felt in the immediate vicinity of the Temple Mount, an area that holds immense religious significance and remains one of the most contested spaces in the region.

"The Old City in Jerusalem, right near the Temple Mount, was impacted by Iranian missile fragments. The Iranian regime once again proves they fire indiscriminately, whether at civilian areas or holy sites, all with the intention of destroying the State of Israel," the IDF said in a statement.

The reported missile impact near the Temple Mount raised fears not only of civilian casualties but also of potential damage to a zone that includes sites central to the faith of billions around the world.

Worshippers Barred From Al-Aqsa On Eid

As security restrictions remained in place, hundreds of Muslim worshippers were unable to enter the Old City and gather at Al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid prayers. Instead, they assembled outside the gates and prayed in the streets, shut out from one of Islam's holiest sites.

Israel had restricted access to the mosque compound citing security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

"Today, Al-Aqsa has been taken from us. It's a sad and painful Ramadan," said Wajdi Mohammed Shweiki, a Palestinian man in his sixties, speaking to AFP outside the gates.

"It's a catastrophic situation for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for Palestinians in general and for all Muslims across the globe," he added.

The images of worshippers praying outside sealed gates on Eid added to the emotional weight of the day, especially after the final ten days of Ramadan passed under tight restrictions.

Rare Closure Of Jerusalem's Sacred Sites During War

Since Israel and the United States launched their military campaign against Iran on 28 February, Israeli authorities have shut all three of Jerusalem's most revered holy sites: the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, and the Western Wall for Jews.

Researchers cited in the report say the closure of Al-Aqsa during the final days of Ramadan and on Eid al-Fitr is unprecedented in the post-1967 era. If confirmed, it would be the first time in nearly six decades that worshippers have been denied access to the mosque for Eid under such circumstances.

The combination of a missile strike near the Old City and the closure of Jerusalem's key holy sites has intensified concern over the widening fallout of the Israel-Iran war, with the conflict now directly disrupting religious observances in one of the world's most symbolically charged cities.