Hamas: Al-Aqsa restrictions continuation of Israeli aggression

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the Israeli-imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshippers’ access to al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadan is a continuation of the regime’s aggression on the Palestinians and their sanctities.

Hamas said on Friday that hundreds of Palestinians in the occupied al-Quds are banned from reaching the mosque on the second Friday of the holy month and they have been assaulted.

The resistance movement said the restrictive measures are “a continuation of the overall state of aggression waged by the Zionist enemy against our people, our land, and our sanctities, which our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are confronting with utmost courage.”

The movement also hailed the “steadfast” people who defied the restrictions and staged a sit-in at the mosque.

Warning of the danger of the Israeli escalation, Hamas urged the international community, not least the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take a serious action to protect al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic and Christian holy sites from Israel’s plans to “liquidate the Palestinian cause.”

Ramadan has historically seen an escalation of Israeli violence against the Palestinians, particularly around Al-Aqsa Mosque.

This year’s Ramadan is expected to be more violent than previous years given the regime’s incessant bombing of Gaza.

The genocidal US-backed war started after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, 2023 against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities.

Since early October, the regime has killed nearly 32,000 Palestinians and injured more than 74,000 others in Gaza.

Israel has also killed at least 440 Palestinians and injured about 4,700 others in the occupied West Bank ever since.