Occupied Jerusalem – Safa
The Jerusalem Governorate affirmed that the continued closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the inability of the Palestinian people to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer tomorrow, Friday, in its courtyards, is a dangerous and unprecedented escalation and a blatant violation of the freedom of worship and the existing legal and historical status in the holy city.
In a statement issued Thursday evening, the governorate stressed that what is happening represents a dangerous precedent, the first of its kind in decades, in light of the continuous closure for the twentieth consecutive day (since February 28), leading to the denial of Palestinians to perform the Eid prayer, in the context of a systematic policy aimed at imposing new realities and isolating Al-Aqsa Mosque from its Palestinian and Islamic surroundings.
She also affirmed that the occupation has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem, stressing that all Israeli measures, including the complete closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque, constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and international legitimacy resolutions, and a clear violation of the status quo in the holy places.
She noted that the authority to open or close the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque is an exclusive right of the Islamic Waqf Department, as it is the legal authority with jurisdiction over the management of the mosque’s affairs.
At the same time, she warned of escalating calls by settler groups to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque after the end of Eid al-Fitr, coinciding with the Jewish Passover, including public calls to bring in sacrifices and slaughter them inside the mosque’s courtyards, in a dangerous step that affects its sanctity.
The Jerusalem Governorate praised the steadfastness of our people in Jerusalem, who continued to adhere to their right to worship despite this unprecedented closure, and despite being deprived of the rituals of the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, as they embodied a unique state of steadfastness and commitment by performing prayers in the vicinity of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, in a scene that reflects the depth of the religious and national connection to the mosque, despite the restrictions and repressive measures imposed on their prayers by the occupation.
It called on the international community, including the United Nations and human rights and religious organizations, to take urgent and effective action to stop these grave violations, ensure freedom of worship in the city of Jerusalem, and provide legal and political protection for Islamic and Christian holy sites.
She also warned of the danger of the current stage, which is witnessing an accelerated shift towards imposing unprecedented Judaizing realities, and exploiting the current situation to pass plans that affect the essence of the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The governorate stressed that ending the occupation and holding it accountable has become an urgent necessity to protect Palestinian rights, foremost among them the right to worship in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.#Eid prayer
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