Israeli Regime Exploiting Gaza War to Take Over Al-Aqsa Mosque: Ramallah
The Friday statement said that Israel was imposing "Judaization measures" on Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, and trying to seize control of it.
"Israel exploits the preoccupation with the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip and imposes Judaization measures against Al-Aqsa Mosque," the MFA's statement read.
The ministry strongly condemned the actions of the Israeli forces, which included assaulting Palestinian worshippers, preventing them from accessing the mosque, and attacking journalists covering the events.
Earlier on Friday, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in al-Quds, who were trying to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.
The forces fired sound bombs and tear gas at the Palestinians.
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The police also set up checkpoints and barricades at the gates of the Old City, and only allowed elderly people to pass.
Since the start of the latest conflict in Gaza on Oct. 7, Israeli military have imposed severe restrictions on the entry of worshippers to the mosque, especially on Fridays.
Meanwhile, Hamas Resistance Movement said on Friday that it considered Israel's prevention of Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a continuation of the war that it was waging against the Palestinian people.
In a statement, Hamas said that "the tightening of the occupation forces' restrictions on the Palestinian people in Jerusalem, preventing them from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, and attacking them, is a continuation of the comprehensive war waged by the enemy against our people, land, and sanctities."
Hamas said that the Palestinians were resisting the Israeli aggression with "courage and sacrifice", and that they would not allow it or any Zionist scheme to succeed.
Hamas also warned of the "danger of escalation in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa", and called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League to take serious and effective action to protect Al-Aqsa and the Islamic and Christian holy sites from the "malicious Judaization projects" of the Zionists.
Source: Agencies
