Israeli excavations threaten Al-Aqsa, undermine historic features

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Relevant institutions and authorities have revealed that excavations made by "Israel" under Al-Aqsa Mosque are threatening its foundations, revealing that new cracks have appeared in the floor of the Holy Mosque.

The cracks appeared near the Islamic Museum and the Mughrabi Gate adjacent to Al-Buraq Wall all the way to the Umayyad palaces area.

On its part, the Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sanctuaries in the occupied city of Al-Quds said it is following the dangerous activities of "Israel" in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa.

The council stated that the "Israel" Antiquities Authority and the "Elad" settlement association have been conducting suspicious and mysterious excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially from the southern and western sides adjacent to the mosque's external foundation, in the areas of Al-Buraq Wall and the Umayyad palaces.

The Council also indicated that it has been monitoring for a while a group of workers using bulldozers and heavy excavating machinery working at an extremely suspicious fast pace in the said areas.

According to the Council, the works included digging the sand out and making holes in the walls adjacent to the southern wall of the mosque.

Observers have also monitored continuous crushing for months of important huge archaeological stones, which are converted into smaller stones in order to hide their traces and are removed in the guise of mounds intended for rubbish.

The Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sanctuaries warned "against continuing to tamper with, sabotage and change the historical and religious landmarks of these historical endowment sites."

On its part, Hamas said the Israeli excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque are a "direct threat to the foundations and walls of the mosque," in occupied Al-Quds.

Hamas said in a statement a few days ago, "The continuous excavations carried out by the Zionist occupation authorities in the areas of Al-Buraq Wall and the Umayyad palaces are a direct threat to the foundations and walls of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque." The movement added that "the excavations are an attempt to obliterate the features of the Islamic and historical city of Jerusalem," and warned the occupation that it would be held "fully responsible for the repercussions of these dangerous violations."

Hamas called on the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Jordan to "move urgently to stop these malicious colonial schemes, in order to protect Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque..."