Palestinian families gather at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Reuters
Palestinian families gather at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Reuters
Palestinian families gather at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Reuters
Palestinian families gather at Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Reuters

Palestinians find respite from Israeli occupation at Al Aqsa Mosque


Hamza Hendawi
  • English
  • Arabic

At Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site and a place at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Muslims do so much more than pray.

It is a place where they seek reprieve from the daily acts of cruelty that define the Israeli occupation. To Al Aqsa's visitors, this occupation is symbolised in part by the stern-faced police who guard the complex's gates and arbitrarily deny entry to anyone they please.

But once inside, visitors experience a sense of freedom rarely found elsewhere in heavily policed Jerusalem, whose predominantly Arab east – home to the mosque and the Old City – was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1980.

Many of young people play football on Al Aqsa's sprawling plaza, using footwear for goalposts. Friends and relatives picnic for hours or sit with a cup of home-brewed tea or coffee while enjoying a cool summer breeze.

The elderly sit on garden chairs on the plaza outside the mosque, conversing endlessly after sunset prayers until the muezzin calls on the faithful to gather again for isha, the day's fifth and final prayer.

Young men and women escort their ailing elders to the mosque, pushing their wheelchairs or supporting them as they cross the plaza to pray either at Al Aqsa or at the Dome of the Rock.

Many form small circles to recite verses from the Quran. The more seasoned among them frequently stop the less so to correct their pronunciation. Mothers take advantage of the plaza's large and unhindered space to give their babies a chance to hone their walking skills.

Young Palestinians play football on the plaza of Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Hamza Hendawi / The National
Young Palestinians play football on the plaza of Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Hamza Hendawi / The National

On Fridays, thousands flock to Al Aqsa for the main weekly prayers, filling the mosque and the nearby one built at the Dome of the Rock, which is reserved for women when the number of worshippers is too large.

They arrive hours before the ritual begins. Those who choose to stay on the plaza shield themselves from the summer heat in the shade of the complex's trees.

To the Palestinians, especially residents of Jerusalem, Al Aqsa means much more than a deeply revered place of worship that has over time acquired symbolic, spiritual and political significance for Muslims.

For them, it is a place of refuge where they can find solace, a place that shields them from the ravages of the most violent phase of the decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Their dream of an independent state of their own is fast vanishing as Israel presses on with its devastating war in Gaza, considers the annexation of the occupied West Bank and uses its military might to become the region's dominant force. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently spoken publicly about his dream of a “greater Israel” that envisages taking over territory from neighbouring Arab nations.

Already, the Gaza war has killed more than 64,700 Palestinians, starved hundreds of thousands and destroyed most of the tiny enclave.

“Al Aqsa is a refuge for Jerusalemites and Arab Israelis alike. Their ties to Al Aqsa are defined by their faith and conviction,” said Sheikh Akremah Sabri, who, at 87, is the longest-serving imam of Al Aqsa.

Muslims and Christians from the occupied West Bank need Israeli permits to visit holy sites in Jerusalem.

Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Hamza Hendawi / The National
Al Aqsa Mosque compound. Hamza Hendawi / The National

The strength of the bond between Jerusalemites and Al Aqsa is a reflection of their faith and, in equal terms, their enduring resolve to prevent Israel from taking it over, changing it or restricting their access to the site.

“Jerusalem is Al Aqsa,” Ahmed Abul Hawa, 37, a bus driver from Jerusalem, declared. “I consider myself fortunate to belong to a city that's home to Al Aqsa.”

While Muslims see the mosque as their third-holiest site, Jews also revere the site. These conflicting narratives are at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, now fuelled by the nationalist and expansionist policies of Mr Netanyahu's right-wing government.

Israeli extremists, and now members of Mr Netanyahu's government, have over the years stormed the site on occasion to remind everyone of their claim. Palestinians say those incursions have increased in frequency since the start of the Gaza war. The war was caused by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israeli communities that killed about 1,200.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for example, has stormed the site several times since Mr Netanyahu's government, the most right-wing in Israel's history, took office in December 2022.

The Islamic Awqaf – part of the Jordanian Ministry for Religious Affairs and Islamic Holy Sites that administers the complex – said Mr Ben-Gvir and more than 1,200 others prayed, shouted and danced when they stormed the site in August, acts that the Palestinians saw as irreverent or disrespectful.

The mosque built over the Dome of the Rock is reserved for women when the number of worshippers at Al Aqsa is too large. Hamza Hendawi / The National
The mosque built over the Dome of the Rock is reserved for women when the number of worshippers at Al Aqsa is too large. Hamza Hendawi / The National

Under a delicate decades-old status quo between Israel and Muslim authorities, Al Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, while Jews can visit but cannot pray there.

“Only a few years ago, a Jewish person caught praying, dancing or flying Israel's flag inside Al Aqsa complex risked immediate arrest by the police,” said Mustafa Abu Sway, a US-educated expert on Al Aqsa who lectures at both the mosque and Al Quds University. “Now they dance and sing with impunity.”

The visits routinely take place from Sunday through Thursday. They last an hour or a little longer under tight police protection. They are not allowed on Fridays and Saturdays.

On Jewish holidays, these visits can attract thousands. Muslims inside the complex are not obliged to leave when the Jews arrive, but police clear their path of Muslim worshippers.

Security measures around Al Aqsa have been significantly tightened since the start of the Gaza war, with police posted at the complex's 10 active gates demanding proof of identity from visitors or, in some cases, turning them away without giving reasons.

Imams who criticise Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza have been barred from giving sermons for at least six months or from entering the complex altogether for a similar period.

On August 22, the day the UN declared famine in Gaza, the Friday sermon at Al Aqsa made no direct mention of Gaza or the declaration, only praying to God to feed the hungry.

“The hungry only pray to God to end their suffering and the hungry only scream 'relieve us', like the Khalifa Omar did,” Sheikh Mohammed Sarandah told worshippers in his sermon. He was alluding to Omar Ibn Al Khatab, a companion of the Prophet Mohammed who dealt with famine in Madinah during his seventh century rule.

Worshippers pass through Jerusalem’s Old City after Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque. Hamza Hendawi / The National
Worshippers pass through Jerusalem’s Old City after Friday prayers at Al Aqsa Mosque. Hamza Hendawi / The National

Policemen are also posted inside Al Aqsa complex, standing guard on the peripheries of the plaza. They are posted in much larger numbers during Friday prayers, which attract thousands from Jerusalem and Arab communities across Israel.

Mr Abu Sway said routine maintenance work on the complex has become a bureaucratic nightmare, with the smallest repair work or additions requiring permits from police.

“To bring in even a small brick is a big deal,” he said. “An engineer was handcuffed and placed under arrest for allowing a worker to use cement to support a loose tile,” said Mr Abu Sway, whose expertise is in the works of Imam Al Ghazali, a prominent 12th-century Sufi theologian and philosopher.

Sermons and prayers at the mosque routinely include supplications for the protection of the site, which has over the centuries been subjected to earthquakes, fires and attempts by extremists to destroy or burn it down.

The worst modern-day attack on Al Aqsa happened in 1969 when an Australian, Denis Michael Rohan, tried to torch the building. A large fire raged for hours, gutting the roof before firefighters put it out.

The incident outraged Muslims and inspired the creation later that year of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, a Pan-Islamic group that now has 57 member nations.

Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin

4/5 stars 

Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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If you go

 

  • The nearest international airport to the start of the Chuysky Trakt is in Novosibirsk. Emirates (www.emirates.com) offer codeshare flights with S7 Airlines (www.s7.ru) via Moscow for US$5,300 (Dh19,467) return including taxes. Cheaper flights are available on Flydubai and Air Astana or Aeroflot combination, flying via Astana in Kazakhstan or Moscow. Economy class tickets are available for US$650 (Dh2,400).
  • The Double Tree by Hilton in Novosibirsk ( 7 383 2230100,) has double rooms from US$60 (Dh220). You can rent cabins at camp grounds or rooms in guesthouses in the towns for around US$25 (Dh90).
  • The transport Minibuses run along the Chuysky Trakt but if you want to stop for sightseeing, hire a taxi from Gorno-Altaisk for about US$100 (Dh360) a day. Take a Russian phrasebook or download a translation app. Tour companies such as  Altair-Tour ( 7 383 2125115 ) offer hiking and adventure packages.
Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

A%20MAN%20FROM%20MOTIHARI
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdullah%20Khan%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPenguin%20Random%20House%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E304%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m, Winner: Zalman, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Hisham Al Khalediah II, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Qader, Adrie de Vries, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly

8pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,400m, Winner: Nayslayer, Bernardo Pinheiro, Jaber Ramadhan

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
RESULT

Arsenal 2

Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'

Eddie Ntkeiah 51'

Portsmouth 0

 

Abu Dhabi racecard

5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The specs

Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder

Transmission: 7-speed auto

0-100kmh 2.3 seconds

0-200kmh 5.5 seconds

0-300kmh 11.6 seconds

Power: 1500hp

Torque: 1600Nm

Price: Dh13,400,000

On sale: now

While you're here
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

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The biog

Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito

Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa

Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".

Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".

Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
CREW
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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

The%20Beekeeper
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: September 05, 2025, 5:45 AM`