In the spirit of young people and in an illustration for their love for Al-Aqsa Mosque hundreds of youth from the West Bank jumped off the Israeli apartheid wall in order to reach Jerusalem willingly taking the risk to reach the holy mosque in the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan despite the large number of patrols of the Israeli occupation army.
Despite the denial of thousands of young people from entering Jerusalem for those under the age of forty many calls on social networks have emerged for young people to challenge the decision of the occupation and jump from above the wall to pray at Al-Aqsa against the will of the Israeli occupation authority.
Ahmed Abu Falah from the village of Beita to the south of Nablus says that he insists on praying the first Friday of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque noting that jumping off the wall is an easy process and it is not a difficult one.
He adds “Before we reach the wall we know what is going on around and we watch the movement of patrols then we use a long ladder and sometimes a hidden rope on the other side of the wall. We jump off the wall and some people get their hands or feet bruised or broken.
Challenge despite the risks
With the break of dawn of the first Friday of Ramadan and despite the security alert of the occupation forces young Palestinians in Jerusalem helped young people from West Bank cities and villages who were trying to jump over the wall to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque risking their lives by being at the risk of being shot or chased and arrested by the soldiers and patrols of the occupation which guard the wall 24/7.
Despite the frequent patrols of the occupation and the large number of cameras the high wall which sometimes reaches up to 12 meters and the presence of watch towers that monitor every movement behind or in front of the apartheid wall many young Palestinians from the West Bank who are banned from entering the city of Jerusalem jump over the wall.
Speaking of the risks and possible injuries young Palestinian Mohammed Al-Husseini from Qalandia refugee camp in the West Bank says: “Most of the injuries are among young people because they are the ones who risk crossing the wall. They usually suffer from fractures in the bones and feet and sometimes they suffer from injuries resulting from the chase of the Israeli army. Young people have to jump quickly to escape.” The people of Jerusalem and its villages are keen to protect young people from moving patrols in the adjacent streets near the wall.
Resistance to Judaization
Since the break of dawn of the first Friday in the holy month of Ramadan the Israeli occupation army intensified its control of the wall by deploying thousands of troops at the entrances of Jerusalem to prevent Palestinians from the West Bank from performing prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli occupation army has intensified patrols and forces on the ground turning occupied Jerusalem into a military barracks.
Mu’taz Salameh from Nablus speaks with passion after being able to challenge the Israeli occupation measures by praying at Al-Aqsa. He says: “It is necessary to challenge and overcome all risks which are small compared to the great reward that awaits us in return for reaching Al-Aqsa keeping in mind what the holy Mosque goes through of plots to Judaize it and prevent Muslims from reaching it. Every Palestinian reaches Al-Aqsa contributes to supporting Palestinians in Jerusalem which makes the Israeli occupation at unease.”
