Resistance Warns ‘israel’ over Plans to limit Palestinian Al-Aqsa Access on Ramadan

The Islamic Jihad resistance movement warned against the Israeli plan to restrict access of worshipers to the holy compound during the month of Ramadan.

In a statement released on Monday, the resistance group said that the plan “indicates that the Israeli occupation government has placed the holy mosque under direct targeting, as part of a systematic displacement and Judaization plan that the enemy government seeks to impose within the framework of the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people in Gaza.”

The Islamic Jihad also called on the Palestinian people as well as Muslim and Arab people to take action in a bid to defend the sanctities, on top of which is Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Fighters of the Al-Qassam and Al-Quds Brigades, the military wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad Palestinian Resistance movements (photo from archive / Gaza city).

For its part, Hamas resistance movement said the Israeli plan “is a reflection of the Zionist crimes and religious war waged by radical elements of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people,” a statement released on Sunday read.

The resistance group criticized Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval of Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s call to ban Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa during Ramadan, saying it is a “violation of the freedom of worship” in the holy mosque.

Hamas also emphasized that this showed Israeli intention to increase its attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.

The statement called on Palestinians in Al-Quds (Jerusalem), the West Bank and the occupied territories to “reject and resist this criminal decision,” urging them to “take action and flock to Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Shin Bet Warns against Move

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to limit the entry of Palestinian citizens of Israel Israelis to Al Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming Ramadan holy Muslim Month, in a move sure to ignite tensions in the Palestinian territories.

The decision, reported by Israeli Channel 13, comes despite strong opposition from the Shin Bet security service, who warned it could exacerbate unrest.

According to Haaretz, the Shin Bet “believes allowing even a small amount of worshipers into the complex will aid in the prevention of clashes with police.”

The Israeli security organization noted that “Hamas did not by chance name their October 7” operation ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’. It warned “that unnecessarily antagonizing the Muslim population in Israel and the West Bank during the sensitive period of Ramadan should be avoided,” Haaretz reported.

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said on his social media account that “restrictions will be imposed on Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, but it is not yet clear what these will be.”

Last Friday (February 16), and despite Israeli restrictions, approximately 25,000 Palestinian faithful were able to enter the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Al-Quds to perform Friday prayers for the first time since the war erupted on October 7th.

BREAKING| Israeli forces attack worshipers as they were attempting to reach Al Aqsa mosque. pic.twitter.com/IlUK1nXmAw

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) February 16, 2024