'Israel' blocks Palestinian worshippers from Al-Aqsa for 17th week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Feb 2024 09:33

Part of "Israel's" war on Palestinians is embodied in restrictions that prohibit Palestinian Muslims from praying at their holy house, especially on the holiest day of the week.

Palestinian Muslim worshipers who were prevented from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, pray outside the Old City in Al-Quds as Israeli occupation forces surround them Friday, December 22, 2023. (AP)

"Israel" has prohibited tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslims from attending Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque for the 17th consecutive week since the start of its war on Gaza.

The Islamic Endowments Department in al-Quds revealed that only 13,000 Palestinians have been able to attend Friday prayers, compared to the average 50,000 pre-war number.

Andalou reported eyewitnesses describing the mosque as void of the Muslims as a result of the Israeli restrictions.

Since "Israel" launched its genocide on Gaza, its policies dictated restrictions on entrance to Al-Aqsa but were specifically stricter on Friday. As part of the restrictions, Israeli occupation forces constrained entrances to the Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque with barriers, refusing anyone from entering except for the elderly.

As a result, hundreds of worshippers were forced to pray in the streets instead of their holy site. Even then, occupation forces were patrolling the surroundings where Palestinians opted to pray.

Al-Aqsa is Palestinian

This has been constant in the Israeli book of violations. Last month, Palestinians performed prayers in the Wadi al-Joz neighborhood adjacent to the occupied Old City, refusing to be subjugated to the Judaization attempts on al-Quds.

Earlier, in a stern statement issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ramallah accused the Israeli government of exploiting the international concerns being geared towards the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to advance its agenda in Occupied East Al-Quds.

Specifically, the statement speaks of attempts to seize control of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"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 vehemently condemned the measures taken by the Israeli Occupation Forces, citing assaults on Palestinian worshippers and prohibiting them from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Furthermore, it condemned attacks on journalists covering the events.