Middle East War: Missile Lands Near Al-Aqsa Mosque In Jerusalem As Iran Attacks Israel; Eid Prayers Cancelled

Tel Aviv: Even on the day of Eid, Iran granted Israel no respite. An Iranian missile landed just meters away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Consequently, hundreds of Muslims were unable to offer their Eid prayers inside the mosque. These individuals were compelled to offer their prayers outside, beyond the closed gates. This marks the first time in approximately 60 years that people have been denied permission to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of Eid. On Saturday, Israel stated that an Iranian missile had struck Jerusalem during the Eid festivities. The missile landed merely a few meters away from some of the world's holiest sites—a location held sacred equally by Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

What did Israel say?

The Israeli Foreign Minister shared details regarding this incident on the social media platform X. The post stated that, during Eid, an Iranian missile targeted Jerusalem. It landed just a few hundred meters away from sites considered most sacred by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. This, the post asserted, is the true face of the Mullahs' so-called "religious" regime. The Israeli military reported that the impact was felt directly in the vicinity of the Temple Mount. Jerusalem's Old City—situated right next to the Temple Mount—was affected by debris from the Iranian missile. In a statement, the IDF declared that the Iranian regime has once again demonstrated its propensity for indiscriminate fire; whether targeting civilian areas or religious sites, their sole objective remains the destruction of Israel.

An Iranian missile just struck Jerusalem’s Old City near the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, some of the holiest sites to Jews, Muslims, and Christians. pic.twitter.com/mvz3VPHzsE

— Noa Tishby (@noatishby) March 20, 2026

What was the reaction?

Hundreds of Muslims gathered at the gates of the Old City to offer their Eid prayers outdoors, having been unable to gain access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself. It is worth noting that Israel had sealed off access to the area due to security concerns amidst the ongoing conflict. Commenting on the attacks, 60-year-old Palestinian resident Wajdi Mohammed Shweiki remarked, "Al-Aqsa has been taken away from us. This has been a sorrowful and agonizing Ramadan." He further stated that this is a catastrophic situation for the residents of Jerusalem—particularly the Palestinians—and for all Muslims across the globe.

The United States and Israel launched their military operation against Iran on February 28. Since then, Israeli authorities have closed down three of Jerusalem's most revered holy sites. These include the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, and the Western Wall for Jews. Researchers note that this marks the first time in nearly six decades that the Al-Aqsa Mosque has remained closed during the final ten days of Ramadan and during Eid.