Israeli forces closed off the Al-Aqsa Mosque entirely to worshippers on Tuesday afternoon, amid the brutal assault on the Gaza Strip that has been ongoing since October 7th.
This act marks a significant escalation in tensions against the revered Islamic site, Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department stated that from the morning, there had been a severe restriction on worshippers’ entry into Al-Aqsa, initially permitting only elderly individuals to enter.
However, the situation escalated when access was denied to everyone, marking the first time in several months that the occupation forces had completely sealed off the mosque.
Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism expressed grave concerns over this aggressive move, especially given its timing during the ongoing genocide campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The observatory highlighted that this audacious act of closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a blatant provocation to the sentiments of over a billion Muslims worldwide and warned of dire consequences, especially in light of the ongoing massacres committed by the occupation forces against innocent Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The observatory further emphasized that Al-Aqsa remains a purely Islamic sacred site and sanctuary, insisting that any tampering with its historical, religious, and legal status is unacceptable.
This recent development underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention to prevent further escalations and protect the rights and sanctuaries of the Palestinian people.
The world is watching as tensions continue to rise, and the call for immediate action and solidarity with the Palestinian cause grows stronger. Al-Aqsa Mosque, a site of immense religious significance, stands at the heart of this conflict, and its closure by Israeli forces adds a volatile element to an already tense situation.
