A total of 29,610 Jewish fanatics have forced their way into Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, in 2019, raising concern of an organized scheme to change the long-held status quo at the holy compound located in Jerusalem’s Old City as a Muslim-only worship place, Azzam Khatib, director of the Waqf department, which is in charge of the Muslim-run places in Jerusalem, stated on Tuesday. RNA - He said in a statement that the record number of Jewish fanatics who came to the Muslim holy compound this year under heavy protection by thousands of Israeli police, special forces and intelligence was a breach of the historical and legal status at the Mosque, WAFA news agency rported.
“All signs and data indicate an escalation in the frequency of violations against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings during this year through a series of unprecedented trespasses, which constitute an infringement on the historical and legal status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque as an Islamic mosque for Muslims alone under the patronage of King Abdullah II (of Jordan),” added Khatib.
He warned against “attempts by the occupying power to exploit the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a platform to achieve political gains and for electoral propaganda for individuals and groups, who do not understand the dangers of these actions, in their efforts and insistence to agitate the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world”.
Khatib stressed that the Islamic Waqf department insists on confronting all measures and violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and all its buildings, including Bab al-Rahma, also known as the Golden Gate, which he said is an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque and which Israeli police have been trying to keep Muslim worshippers away from it while allowing Jewish concentration at the site during their presence at the Mosque compound.
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