The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has warned Israeli authorities against violations at al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds, emphasizing that any provocative move against the sacred site will infuriate Palestinians and subsequently ignite an armed struggle. Rasa - Hamas, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the Israeli regime will pay a hefty price for its encroachment on the revered compound, and continuing violations at the mosque will be a cause for confrontation.
The Palestinian movement also rejected an Israeli court ruling to close the historic Golden Gate, known as Bab al-Rahma in Arabic and the only eastern gate to al-Aqsa Mosque, underlining that the Israeli regime will not be able to withstand the power of Palestinians as the people can make the impossible possible and abolish the occupation schemes targeting Jerusalem al-Quds.
Hamas termed the closure of Bab al-Rahma as a measure aimed at turning the mosque into a synagogue and the Judaization of the city, noting that such a dangerous plan will fail to come to fruition.
The Palestinian movement then called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League to take action to stop the looming threat to the al-Aqsa Mosque, and to prevent the Israeli regime from achieving its objectives.
On Monday, the Islamic organizations in East Jerusalem al-Quds dismissed the Israeli court ruling to close Bab al-Rahma prayer area inside al-Aqsa Mosque compound, stressing that everything within the walled up site is purely Islamic and the Israeli regime has no rights or authority over it.
The organizations said in a statement that the Israeli police informed them of a decision taken on July 2 to close Bab al-Rahma prayer area for Muslim worshipers.
“Bab al-Rahma prayer area is an integral part of the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is for Muslims alone by a divine right and not subject for negotiations or concession of even one grain of its soil,” said the organizations.
“Al-Aqsa Mosque stands above any decision by courts regardless of their status or any political decision,” they stressed, adding, “Muslims do not accept or recognize such illegal decisions, and will not abide by them.”
“The Occupation’s (Israeli regime’s) decisions are contrary to freedom of worship and contrary to international laws and norms,” said the Islamic organizations, holding the Tel Aviv responsible for any harm to al-Aqsa Mosque.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound sits just above the Western Wall plaza and houses both the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque.
Palestinians have repeatedly warned of Israeli attempts to change the status quo of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam.