For the 39th consecutive day, Israeli occupation authorities have continued the closure of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the occupied city of Jerusalem, citing a "state of emergency" and the security situation as justification.
اضافة اعلان
Escalation in the Old City
The Jerusalem Governorate stated in a press release that during this closure period, occupation forces have imposed stringent military measures around Al-Aqsa Mosque and sealed the gates of Jerusalem’s Old City amid a noticeable escalation.
This follows an incursion by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque via the Moroccan Gate (Bab al-Maghariba) on Monday evening under heavy armed guard.
A Pattern of Provocation
This latest incursion comes as colonialist groups intensify calls for increased raids on the mosque. Since taking office in 2023, Ben-Gvir has stormed the site approximately 14 times as part of a systematic escalatory policy.
Tightening Control: Authorities are utilizing security pretexts to strengthen their grip on Al-Aqsa.
Popular Resistance: Residents of Jerusalem and local activists are calling for gatherings at the nearest military checkpoints to break the siege and demand the reopening of the holy sites.
Religious Holidays: So-called "Temple Groups" are exploiting the Jewish Passover holiday (which began on April 2nd and continues until April 9th) to incite further incursions and call for "animal sacrifices" within the mosque's premises.
Official Warnings
Official and religious bodies have warned of the grave dangers posed by the continued closure, describing it as a "blatant violation of the freedom of worship." They have characterized these actions as a dangerous escalation that requires urgent international intervention to halt.
