Islamic Waqf Department Warns against Israeli Digs below Al-Aqsa Mosque

Rasa - The Islamic Waqf (endowment) department in Jerusalem, which is in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, warned in a recent press release against Israeli digs below the Muslim holy place.

News ID: 438794

Date: 24 July 2018 - 19:57

RNA - Waqf director, Azzam al-Khatib, said Israel was secretly carrying out digs below the Islamic Museum, on the western side of the Mosque compound, with an intention to link together the tunnels under Jerusalem’s Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly with the Umayyad Palaces below the Islamic Museum, WAFA reported.

“We are taking this matter very seriously and with deep concern,” he said in a statement.

Khatib called on UNESCO and the Jordanian government, which is the custodian over the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, to send teams to inspect what Israel is doing below the Mosque, which could eventually harm the foundations of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock next to it.

Meanwhile, reports said on Monday that a large stone fell from the northwestern side of the wall of Jerusalem's Old City, prompting Waqf officials to warn of the possibility of other stones falling due to the Israeli digs in the area.

The Israeli authorities have shut down the area where the stone fell and refuses to give information about the reasons for the fall of the stone, which is close to Magharbe Gate.

847/940