New restrictions... Occupation prevents Al-Aqsa Mosque from preparing for Ramadan

Al-Filistini – The Jerusalem Governorate issued a statement on Monday revealing a systematic escalation by the occupation authorities targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque and preparations for Ramadan. The statement summarized the situation in the following points:

First: Targeting logistical and administrative aspects

• Prevention of equipment installation: The occupation prevented the Waqf Department from installing protective awnings, equipping field clinics, and making all necessary arrangements to serve worshippers.
• Targeting employees: Around 25 employees of the Awqaf Department were dismissed and four others were arrested in order to weaken the ability to manage mosque affairs.
• Expulsion orders: More than 250 expulsion orders have been issued from the Haram al-Sharif since the beginning of this year.

Second: Escalation of incursions and extreme demands

• Extension of storming hours: The extremist "Temple Mount School" announced the extension of morning storming to start from 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. (an additional hour).
• Political pressure: In a letter to Netanyahu, the "Temple Mount organizations" demanded that he guarantee what they called "the sovereignty and religious freedom of Jews" in the mosque during Ramadan.
• Postponement of decisions: The occupation police postponed their decision regarding raids during the last ten days of Ramadan, pending an assessment of reactions on the ground.

Third: Strict restrictions on the entry of worshippers

According to documentation from the governorate, the occupation's plan for Ramadan includes the following:

• A limit of only 10,000 worshippers from the West Bank on Fridays.
• Admission is restricted to men over 55 and women over 50,and requires prior authorization.

Legal position and national appeals:

• Invalidity of measures: The governorate emphasized that all measures taken by the occupation in Jerusalem and its holy sites are "null and void, illegal, and contrary to international law and the historical status quo."
• Call to Rabat: The Palestinian people and Palestinians inside Israel (the 1948 territories) were called upon to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to confront attempts to empty it and Judaize it.
• International community: I called for decisive international intervention to stop provocative policies and protect the legal and historical status of holy sites.