Palestinian Awqaf warns of escalating Israeli occupation violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque

RAMALLAH, Jan 4 (KUNA) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said on Sunday that Israeli occupation forces carried out 27 stormings into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the past month, as part of what it described as a clear policy aimed at "normalizing" Jewish religious and ritual presence inside the holy site.
In its monthly report, the ministry warned of the violations, noting that they have become a daily occurrence. These include collective prostration rituals, blowing of the shofar, wearing of prayer garments, and the performance of public Talmudic prayers at specific locations and times within the compound, which the ministry said reflects an attempt to impose a temporal and spatial division at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The ministry noted that Israeli settlers have been openly and collectively performing these rituals and boasting about them, adding that the eastern area of the mosque compound near the Bab Al-Rahma prayer area has become the main destination for such prayers.
It also reported that large numbers of settlers held loud celebrations at Al-Buraq Wall plaza west of Al-Aqsa Mosque, with noise reverberating throughout the Old City.
According to the ministry, these actions take place under the supervision and protection of Israeli occupation police, who routinely prevent Al-Aqsa guards affiliated with the Jerusalem Awqaf Department from carrying out their duties during the incursions, while also restricting their movements within the compound.
The Palestinian ministry strongly condemned what it described as daily Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Ibrahimi Mosque, calling on Palestinians to maintain a presence at both holy sites, particularly during prayer times and beyond, stressing that continued presence at the two mosques serves as a means of protecting them from occupation practices. (end) nq.aa