‘Dangerous Precedent’: Backlash Grows Over Proposed Israeli Restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan
Palestinian and religious authorities have strongly slammed the proposed measures, calling them a violation of religious freedoms and an attempt to alter the status quo of the holy site.
According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, discussions have taken place among Israel’s military affairs ministry, Shin Bet intelligence agency, police, prison service, and army officials regarding security measures at the mosque compound.
The reported plan includes significantly limiting the number of worshippers allowed inside, with access restricted to men over 55, women over 50, and children under 12. Additionally, communal Friday prayers would be capped at 10,000 attendees, with prior approval required.
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In a Tuesday statement, Hamas condemned the planned restrictions, calling for “intensified presence, steadfastness, and resistance against all enemy attempts to desecrate and impose control over it.”
“These recommendations represent a new escalation against our people, land, and sanctities. They set a dangerous precedent targeting the right to worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, constituting a blatant violation of all norms, treaties, and divine laws,” said the group.
“This is a direct provocation to Muslim sentiments and a desperate attempt to impose the occupation’s false sovereignty over Al-Aqsa,” it added.
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The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates issued a statement condemning the proposed restrictions, calling them a "blatant violation" of the right to worship and free access to holy sites.
The ministry warned that such measures extend "the occupation’s aggression" against Palestinians and could be a step toward altering the political, historical, and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, WAFA News reported.
The ministry also pledged to engage internationally to highlight these developments and called for urgent global intervention to ensure Palestinian worshippers’ religious freedoms are upheld.
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Similarly, the Islamic Christian Authority for the Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites denounced the reported plan, describing it as "an unprecedented decision since 1967" and a "dangerous precedent."
The authority stated that these measures provoke Muslim sentiments and reinforce Israeli control over the site, violating its historical and legal status.
The proposed restrictions, which are expected to be reviewed in the coming days, come as Ramadan approaches—a period when large numbers of worshippers traditionally gather at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Source: Agencies
