Jerusalem – A Palestinian report revealed, on Sunday, that Al-Aqsa Mosque was subjected to 23 raids by Israeli settlers, while the occupying army prevented the call to prayer 95 times in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, in the south of the West Bank, during last October.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs reported in a report seen by Anadolu’s correspondent that 23 settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque located in East Jerusalem during October, with the participation of 9,721 intruders.
She pointed out that “the eastern area of the mosque witnessed the performance of religious rituals and a collective bowing down, on the occasion of the “Hebrew New Year” (early last October).
The report pointed out that Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first day of Sukkot (October 16-23), and issued statements from inside the mosque aimed at imposing a new reality in Jerusalem.
Since 2003, the Israeli police have unilaterally allowed settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque despite repeated protests from the Islamic Endowments Department.
The Islamic Endowments Department strongly opposes the raids and calls for them to stop, but without a response from the Israeli authorities.
95- A ban on raising the call to prayer in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron
Regarding the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, the Endowments report stated, “Israel prevented the call to prayer 95 times during the past month, as part of attempts to impose a temporal and spatial division, and also closed the Mosque for 7 days.”
The report monitored “the occupation conducting provocative tours inside the Temple Mount and erecting Israeli flags.”
The Endowments considered “these practices a blatant assault on its powers, a dangerous violation of the sanctity of Islamic religious places, and an imposition of a new reality.”
It called on the international community to “urgently intervene to stop these violations, which represent a provocation to the feelings of Muslims and an attempt to change the identity of Jerusalem and Islamic sanctities,” according to the report.
The Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the Old City of Hebron, which is under Israeli control, and about 400 settlers live there, guarded by about 1,500 Israeli soldiers, amid the spread of dozens of military checkpoints.
Since 1994, Israel has divided the mosque 63 percent for Jews and 37 percent for Muslims, following a massacre committed by a settler that resulted in the death of 29 worshipers. In the part designated for Jews, the call to prayer room is located.
The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is witnessing daily Israeli violations by the army and settlers, in parallel with the genocidal war committed by Tel Aviv in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
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**Interview with Dr. Samir Khalid, Middle East Affairs Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Khalid. Recent reports indicate that Al-Aqsa Mosque has faced multiple incursions by Israeli settlers, creating a precarious situation in Jerusalem. Can you provide us with some context surrounding these events?
**Dr. Khalid:** Thank you for having me. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a significant religious site for Muslims but also a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The reports of 23 raids by Israeli settlers, along with nearly 10,000 intruders, highlight a troubling trend of increasing tensions. These incursions often coincide with Jewish holidays, which are seen by some as efforts to assert Israeli claims over the site.
**Interviewer:** The reports also mention the participation of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during the Sukkot holiday. What implications do you think this has for the situation in Jerusalem?
**Dr. Khalid:** Ben Gvir’s presence there is highly provocative. It signals a level of government endorsement of actions that many consider inflammatory. His statements from within the mosque could be interpreted as an attempt to alter the status quo that has existed in Jerusalem for decades. This not only exacerbates tensions but also raises concerns about potential escalations in violence.
**Interviewer:** The Islamic Endowments Department has been vocal in its opposition to these incursions. What steps can be taken to ease the current unrest?
**Dr. Khalid:** Dialogues and negotiations are essential. Both sides must recognize the significance of Al-Aqsa to the Muslim community and address the grievances related to these incursions. International mediation might be necessary to restore some balance and encourage a peaceful resolution that acknowledges the rights of all parties involved.
**Interviewer:** With the continuation of violence triggered by such incidents, what is the forecast for the region if things do not improve?
**Dr. Khalid:** If this cycle of violence continues, we could see an escalation not just in local clashes but possibly across the region. The sentiments surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque have the potential to ignite broader political and communal unrest. It’s crucial for leaders on both sides to prioritize de-escalation to prevent further deterioration.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Khalid, for your insights. It’s clear that the situation demands careful consideration and immediate action to preserve peace in a historically volatile region.
**Dr. Khalid:** Thank you. It’s imperative that we remain informed and advocate for peaceful resolutions.
