BEIRUT, (PIC)
Al-Quds International Institution has said that the continued imposition of the comprehensive blockade by the Israeli occupation authority on Al-Aqsa Mosque since October 7th, allowing settlers to perform Talmudic rituals, storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, and preventing Palestinian worshipers from observing i’tikaf (spiritual retreat) on the occasion of the Isra and Mi’raj anniversary, will ignite a new battle to defend the sanctity of the Mosque.
The Institution added in a statement issued on Monday that the siege of Al-Aqsa throughout this period sounds the alarm that Israel intends to consolidate these restrictions and inspection procedures, hindrances, and harassment to deprive Palestinian worshipers of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to empty the Mosque of its dense Islamic presence.
It called on the residents of Jerusalem and 1948 Occupied Palestine to intensify their presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to break these restrictions and measures before they become a permanent policy. It also urged the Arab and Islamic masses to escalate activism to break the siege on Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Institution said that Israel is preempting the month of Ramadan by announcing intentions to deprive Muslims of performing i’tikaf in Al-Aqsa, which was the focus of a battle in Al-Aqsa last Ramadan, and it seems that this battle is on its way to renewal this year, requiring preparation from now on.
Here is the full text of the statement:
“The Zionist occupation forces have been imposing a comprehensive blockade on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque since October 7th, preventing worshipers from accessing it, and allowing settlers to perform their Talmudic rituals and flaunt their presence in it, with the Zionists deluding themselves that they are emptying the Al-Aqsa Flood battle of its meaning, as they escalate their religious aggression on Al-Aqsa despite it being the direct cause and symbol of the battle from its beginning.
Furthermore, the occupation forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, February 9th, 2024, and prevented worshipers from performing i’tikaf on the occasion of the Isra and Mi’raj anniversary, and the occupation forces set up barriers in the Old City to prevent worshipers from reaching Al-Aqsa, and harassed them at Bab Al-Silsila, while allowing extremist settlers to organize a massive provocative march in the streets of the Old City.
In the face of this ongoing and escalating Zionist aggression on Al-Aqsa Mosque, Al-Quds International Institution confirms the following:
Firstly: The siege of Al-Aqsa Mosque throughout this period since October 7, 2023, rings alarm bells that the occupation intends to consolidate these restrictions, inspection procedures, hindrance, and harassment to deprive worshipers of access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to empty it of Muslim worshipers. In the face of this challenge, it is incumbent upon our people in Al-Quds and 1948 Occupied Palestine to intensify their presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to break these restrictions and measures before they become a permanent policy, and it is imperative on our Arab and Islamic nation to stand with them and alongside them to break the siege on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque with continuous popular movements that place the breaking of the siege on Al-Aqsa Mosque at the heart of its objectives.
Secondly: With this incursion and aggression against those observing i’tikaf in Al-Aqsa, the Zionist occupier is preempting the month of Ramadan by announcing intentions to deprive Muslims of performing i’tikaf in Al-Aqsa, which was the focus of a battle in Al-Aqsa last Ramadan, and it seems that this battle is on its way to renewal this year, requiring preparation from now on.
Thirdly: The Talmudic holidays and the accompanying invasive actions against Al-Aqsa Mosque are returning anew, as the “Purim” Hebrew holiday coincides with the second week of Ramadan, extending from March 21st to 26th, 2024, and with the unconditional official embrace of the occupation government, which constitutes religious Zionism and extremist temple groups as a fundamental pillar therein; it is expected that the hands of Zionist extremists and temple groups will be unleashed for morning incursions, evening dances, and loud rituals at its gates during the time of iftar and Taraweeh prayer, which further ignites the battle of Al-Aqsa.
In the face of these declared and clear intentions, which are built on a series of eight confrontations where Al-Aqsa was their focus in the last ten years, it is incumbent upon the nation and its living forces, and upon the steadfast in Palestine who are able to reach the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, to prepare for a month characterized by steadfastness, resilience, setting off and breaking the siege on Al-Aqsa, and to confront the incursions and attempts to impose Talmudic rituals, as a fulfillment of its duty and a victory for the blood of Gaza martyrs who advanced the ranks and sacrificed the impossible for this duty.”
