Since 2003, Israeli police have unilaterally allowed the occupiers to enter the mosque daily during two periods—morning and afternoon prayers—except on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, which oversees the mosque, has repeatedly called for a halt to these incursions, but Israeli authorities have not responded.
Since Itamar Ben-Gvir became Israel’s National Security Minister at the end of 2022, violations at the mosque have increased.
Palestinians say Israel is intensifying efforts to Judaize occupied East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.
The Palestinians regard occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, based on international resolutions that do not recognise Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967 or its annexation in 1980.
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