Hamas: Restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa provoke Muslim sentiments

Hamas has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation police’s recommendations and plans to “restrict worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, allowing only 10,000 worshippers to attend Friday prayers.”

In a statement issued yesterday evening, Hamas described these measures as “a new escalation against the Palestinian people and their holy sites, a dangerous precedent that undermines freedom of worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, a blatant violation of all conventions and religious laws, and a direct provocation to Muslim sentiments.” The movement also considered it “a desperate attempt to impose alleged control over the mosque.”

Hamas affirmed that “the occupation’s crimes and aggressive plans against Al-Aqsa — Islam’s first qibla and its third holiest site — will not succeed in erasing its identity or altering its history.”

The movement stressed that “Al-Aqsa will remain an exclusive Islamic endowment, with no place for the occupation. Our people and our nation will defend it with their lives until it is fully liberated from occupation.”

Hamas warned the Israeli government against “proceeding with these recommendations,” holding it fully responsible for any escalation that may arise.

The movement called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the international community to “take serious action to stop the crimes and violations of the occupation against Al-Aqsa Mosque and to ensure that the Palestinian people can freely practice their religious rituals there.”

Additionally, Hamas urged Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem, and within Israel to “intensify their presence at Al-Aqsa, engage in worship and seclusion there during Ramadan, and confront all attempts by the occupation and extremists to desecrate or impose control over the mosque.”

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