Gaza, April 9 -- Thousands of Palestinians streamed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday, returning to one of Islam's holiest sites after a 40-day restriction that had sharply limited access and inflamed tensions across Jerusalem.

The reopening, however, did not signal calm. Instead, it unfolded against a backdrop of intensifying violence in Gaza, mounting accusations of a Gaza genocide, and the killing of a journalist in an Israeli strike, developments that together have deepened fears of a wider and more volatile phase in the conflict.

By early morning, worshippers had gathered in large numbers within the sprawling compound known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, performing prayers under tight security. The return marked a rare m...