"Awqaf": 27 incursions into Al-Aqsa and 53 calls to prayer banned in the Ibrahimi Mosque last month

SadaNews - The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs stated that settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque 27 times, while the occupation prevented the call to prayer 53 times in the Ibrahimi Mosque during the last month of December.

The Awqaf reported today, Sunday, that the occupation and its settlers have escalated their attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, with the number of incursions reaching 27, coinciding with the invasion of dozens of settlers into the mosque on the first day of the festival of lights, amidst rising calls for continuous incursions throughout the festival week, and attempts to conduct rituals of lighting candles inside the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of occupation forces.

It pointed to the seriousness of the occupation's repeated assaults on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as these actions are based on a clear agenda aimed at normalizing the Jewish religious and worship presence inside the mosque. It warned of the nature of the daily aggressions being practiced, such as epic prostration, blowing the shofar, and wearing prayer garments in a clear display of their worship practices, along with collective Talmudic prayers held at specific times and places, which clearly signify a division of time and space.

It noted that since last August, settlers have been boasting about their prayers and epic prostration, performed collectively and publicly in Al-Aqsa. The eastern area of Al-Aqsa, near the "Mercy Gate" prayer hall, has become the main destination for settlers' prayers.

A large number of settlers held noisy celebrations in the plaza of the Buraq Wall (Western Wall) west of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, with echoes reaching throughout the Old City, coinciding with the entrance of the Hebrew month and the sixth day of what is called "Hanukkah".

All of this occurs under the supervision and protection of the occupation police, who constantly prevent the guards of Al-Aqsa, affiliated with the Awqaf Department in Jerusalem, from carrying out their duties within its courtyards during these incursions, placing further restrictions on them.

The Knesset of the occupation has also approved, in a preliminary reading, a draft law concerning the realization of Jewish identity in the public sphere, which would allow Jews to pray and place tefillin (prayer items) in public spaces, including the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, freely and without restrictions.

Regarding the blessed Ibrahimi Mosque, the Ministry of Awqaf stated that the occupation banned the call to prayer 53 times. Noisy celebrations were heard inside the seized section, and several employees were unjustifiably prevented from entering the mosque, with the daily closure of the market gate continuing to hinder worshippers from reaching the Ibrahimi Mosque.

There were also a number of armed settlers present at the eastern gate of the mosque, who held noisy celebrations around it, preventing the mid-day call to prayer. They held provocative and loud musical parties in the seized section at the eastern gate.

The occupation continued to close the market gate and the eastern gate, and continued undetermined excavation works inside the Ashrafiya corner. The occupation placed "two caravans" in the mosque's park next to the electricity room, surrounded the area with barriers, and intensified security measures to prevent Awqaf employees from knowing the nature of their use. They also prevented worshippers from entering the mosque for varying periods under the pretext of "lack of electricity".

Additionally, the occupation expelled the muezzin from the call to prayer room during Friday prayers, tightening military procedures at the entrances to the mosque.

As for the mosques and religious places in Jerusalem and the West Bank, the occupation invaded one mosque in the village of Deir Bzeih west of Ramallah, forcibly expelled worshippers, detained them on-site, and invaded the Yanoun/Nablus Mosque, where they detained worshippers after assaulting some of them, searched the mosque using a police dog, and prevented them from closing the mosque, leaving it open around the clock. A number of occupation forces and settlers besieged worshippers in Husan and settlers invaded the lands of the occupied Solomon's Pools south of Bethlehem, belonging to the Awqaf and Religious Affairs Ministry.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs condemned the daily violations by the Israeli occupation in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque, calling on our Palestinian people to make their way to both mosques and to remain steadfast in them by being present during prayer times and other times, affirming that the presence in these two mosques is their protection against this occupation.