A heavy Israeli police contingent checked worshipers on Friday coming into the Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, the place the specter of unrest loomed over the conclusion of Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims and one which has taken on added significance in the course of the battle in Gaza.
Hamas, the militant group that launched the lethal Oct. 7 assault that prompted Israel to go to battle within the enclave, issued a press release on Thursday urging Palestinians from the occupied West Financial institution and Israel to go to Al Aqsa Mosque on Friday and “prevent all attempts of the occupation to desecrate it and impose its aggressive plans.”
“Let the first Friday of Ramadan be an escalation in all fields in support of Gaza, Jerusalem and Al Aqsa,” the group mentioned, echoing earlier calls to motion.
Al Aqsa is among the holiest websites for Muslims and a part of a compound that’s sacred to Jews, who name it the Temple Mount. Muslim entry to the mosque has lengthy been some extent of rivalry, and in recent times Israel has exerted tighter control over the compound, one among many restrictions endured by Palestinians dwelling below Israeli occupation.
The foundations have tightened additional since Oct. 7, and most Palestinians might not have the ability to reply Hamas’s name to flock to Al Aqsa even when they need to.
Israel’s company overseeing coverage for the Palestinian territories mentioned on Monday that solely males over age 55, ladies over 50 and kids below 10 could be allowed to enter Israel from the West Financial institution to wish at Al Aqsa on Fridays throughout Ramadan. On Monday, the primary day of the Muslim holy month, Israeli police officers outside the compound chased away worshipers and struck some with batons, movies confirmed, as many tried to enter the complicated to wish however had been denied entry below a unique set of age restrictions.
The Israeli police mentioned that they had been “maintaining a balance between the freedom of worship and the imperative of ensuring security.”
In its assertion on Thursday, Hamas known as on younger Palestinians within the West Financial institution to “rise up and go out in roaring crowds” and confront Israeli safety officers. It known as on supporters of the Palestinian trigger “to continue their effective mass movement and angry solidarity marches, and to escalate all forms of mobilization and support,” placing stress on their governments to cease the battle in Gaza.
The group has issued comparable statements throughout its battle with Israel. To this point they haven’t drawn a lot response from individuals within the West Financial institution, the place concern and despair have been rising as Israeli raids have killed greater than 425 individuals there since Oct. 7, in line with the Palestinian well being ministry in Ramallah.
Ayman Abu Ramouz and Rami Nazzal contributed reporting.
