Israeli occupation escalates its attacks and Judaization attempts against al-Aqsa Mosque
The Israeli settlers and occupation forces have escalated their daily raids against al-Aqsa Mosque as part of implementing a systematic scheme to impose a fait accompli regarding the Judaization and controlling of al-Aqsa Compound. These Israeli aggressive acts and racist schemes against the Palestinians get the full support of the American side amid the silence of the international community over the occupation’s crimes and violations.
In a recent report, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf (Islamic endowments) said that more than two thousand settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque last month, clarifying that the raids have increased dramatically to accelerate the occupation’s plans to Judaize the al-Aqsa Compound. The ministry pointed out that these attacks were accompanied by the closure of some prayer halls, in addition to storming others and tightening restrictions at the entrances to Al-Aqsa to prevent thousands of Palestinians from praying inside the mosque.
The Under Secretary of the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf Husam Abu al-Rab said in a statement to SANA that the occupation authorities exploit the coronavirus crisis to escalate their attacks on al-Aqsa in a bid to impose new facts on the ground. He made it clear that the occupation has also escalated its attacks against al-Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city, through blocking the Azan and prayers at this mosque in a blatant aggression on worshipping freedom.
He stressed that that the Palestinian people continue to defend their holy shrines through intensifying their presence in the courtyards of al-Aqsa, pointing out that the escalation of the detention campaigns by the occupation against the workers in Al-Aqsa Mosque, including the administrative staff, preachers, muezzins, worshipers and visitors, won’t dissuade the Palestinians from continuing the battle to defend Al-Aqsa and foil all the occupation’s Judaization schemes.
On his part, Director of the al-Quds International Center Hassan Khater said that Al-Aqsa Mosque is passing through critical times due to intensified attacks by Israeli settlers and the occupation’s plans to control Al-Aqsa, through assaulting and detaining workers and worshipers, exploiting the spread of the Corona epidemic in the world in a flagrant violation of the freedom of worshipping that is guaranteed by international conventions.
Salah Al-Khawaja, the coordinator of the Popular Committee for Resisting the Apartheid Wall and Settlement, said that the occupation authorities continue intensive digging acts under Al-Aqsa Mosque, which the occupation has surrounded with settlements as part of its Judaization plan which is backed by Washington.
Al-Khawaja pointed out that the Israeli settlers’ attacks on the Mosque, preventing the Palestinians from freely praying there, turning al-Quds into military barracks and imposing a complete siege on it have been accompanied by the escalation of demolishing Palestinian houses and real estates in the holy city. He pointed out that the occupation demolished 51 homes last month and announced several plans to establish new settlement units, threatening to confiscate more Palestinian lands.
He called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to protect Christian and Islamic holy sites in occupied al-Quds, which are on its list of World Heritage, and to put pressure on the occupation to stop its aggressive practices against human civilization.
Hamda Mustafa