First Ramadan Al-Aqsa Friday prayer a 'huge dilemma': Israeli media
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Israeli media revealed that the Israeli occupation is treading lightly around taking any measure in today's prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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Palestinians walk next to the Dome of Rock Mosque at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City in al-Quds, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. (AP)
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth announced that hundreds of Israeli occupation police personnel will flood the alleys of al-Quds's Old City today in a state of enhanced "security alert" as today marks the first Friday Prayer in Ramadan.
The newspaper added that thousands of worshipers are predicted to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque today, expecting severe clashes in support of Gaza after the prayers which will cause a "huge dilemma" for the Israeli occupation police.
It revealed that Israeli Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, the leadership of the Israeli Brigade in al-Quds, and "Shin Bet" officials, are meeting in the command room in the Old City to follow up on the latest developments. The dilemma, according to the Israeli newspaper, rests in how the occupation should handle any clashes during or after the prayer, as the IOF are hesitant to raid Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for fear of possible escalations.
#شاهد | شرطة الاحتلال تعتدي على الشبان والنساء في البلدة القديمة بعد منعهم من الدخول إلى #المسجد_الأقصى.#طوفان_الأقصى #فلسطين #القدس_المحتلة pic.twitter.com/Qj5rUuPfRQ
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) March 10, 2024
The Israeli news website emphasized that the Israeli police are devoting special attention to social media, describing it as an "inspiration source" for the attackers. with a special section being established to monitor all "provocative" posts since the beginning of Ramadan as the occupation believes that these posts can ignite the city.
Steel barricades and cages all around Al-Aqsa Mosque
Pictures of the Israeli occupation police placing cage-like steel barricades on all gates leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound specifically King Faisal, Al-Ghawanmeh, and Al-Hadid gates have been circulating all over social media. However, the spokesperson of the Israeli occupation police claimed that this dangerous and unprecedented move was merely routine maintenance work denying the news which he believes only serves to ignite the fields.
Commenting on the latter, Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, expressed his condemnation of the barricades and cages "collectively and in detail" stressing that this move is unilateral from the occupation's end.
Sheikh Sabri emphasized that this move showcases the occupation's ambitions of enforcing dominance and control over the mosque highlighting that all Israeli occupation's measures relating to the mosque completely contradict the freedom of worship as they should not specify the age or number of worshipers.
The preacher called on the worshipers to "heed the call of the Messenger of God Prophet Mohammad to head towards Al-Aqsa" calling on any worshiper who is prevented entrance by the occupation to pray wherever they are stopped.
Hamas urges Palestinians in al-Quds to break al-Aqsa siege today
Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas on March 14 called on Palestinian people across al-Quds, the West Bank, and the '48 occupied territories to urgently defend al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday, March 15, of Ramadan.
The Resistance movement urged active participation in breaking the Israeli siege imposed on Al-Aqsa, insisting that Palestinians must be able to pray and gather within its courtyards.
In its statement, Hamas said, "Gaza, which brought forth the glorious Al-Aqsa Flood, is still fighting the greatest of battles against the enemy after 160 days," urging "our people to actively partake in breaking the occupation's siege on Al-Aqsa, pray in it, defend it, and spend the nights there in worship."
Hamas also emphasized its insistence that the people of occupied Palestine perform their prayers exclusively at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
