According to reports from the Palestinian state news agency, WAFA, Israeli authorities have temporarily closed the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem’s old city, preventing Muslim worshippers from entering the holy site.
The closure was ordered by Israeli police, who shut down all access gates to the walled compound and denied entry to Muslim worshippers, while Jewish visitors were allowed in to perform their prayers. This action violates the status quo of the mosque, which has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Under the existing status quo agreement governing the site, non-Muslims are allowed to visit but only Muslims can worship within the compound. However, there have been instances of Jewish visitors praying at the site, despite the prohibition in Jewish law due to the sacred nature of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The closure of Al-Aqsa mosque and the denial of access to Muslim worshippers come amid heightened tensions in the region due to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. This move is not unprecedented but has added to the existing strain in Jerusalem.
The Al-Aqsa compound is the third holiest site in Islam and the most sacred site in Judaism, known as the Temple Mount. It has frequently been a source of tensions and clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.
In the past, there have been incidents of Israeli extremists entering the complex under the protection of Israeli police, leading to confrontations with Palestinians.
Countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, and GCC countries, have often issued statements denouncing violence by Israeli extremists within the Al-Aqsa holy compound.
The status of religious sites in Jerusalem remains a contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.—AFP
