The State of Palestine condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s continued provocations and aggression against both the worshippers and the sanctity of Holy Sites in Jerusalem, particularly in and around Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
The ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates, in a statement, condemned Israeli occupying forces’ aggression against worshippers during the holiest month of the year, in grave violation of the historic, legal, and political status quo of Jerusalem.
It also condemned the unlawful detention of worshippers followed by the forced invasion of Jewish settlers into Al-Haram Al-Sharif under the protection of Israeli occupying forces.
“Israel, the occupying Power, is not committed, as it falsely claims, to either bring about calm in Jerusalem or to guarantee the freedom of religion and worship for all,” said the statement.
The ministry added that Israel, the occupying Power, is willfully and deliberately provoking Muslim worshippers during the Holy Month of Ramadan and is imposing additional punitive restrictions.
It held Israel fully responsible for the dangerous repercussions of its violations on regional and international peace and security.
“Al-Haram Al-Sharif is a place of Muslim worship, protected and preserved by the historic and internationally recognized status-quo and under the sole authority of the Islamic Waqf and the custodianship of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,” it said.
Israel is an occupying Power has no rightful claim or sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem, including its Holy Sites, stressed the statement.
“Worshippers have the right to pray in and around Al-Haram Al-Sharif, whenever and in accordance with Islamic practices.”
Israel’s militarization and attempts to upend hundreds of years of Islamic traditions are clearly aimed at spatial and temporal division of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and to impose its control, it added.
Israel’s criminalization of Ramadan celebrations and social and cultural assemblies in Jerusalem is an attack on Palestinian polity and existence, stressed the ministry.
It called on the international community to ensure that Israel, the occupying Powers, adheres to its obligations under international law, urging the international community to reaffirm its rejection of and non-recognition of any Israeli claims of sovereignty over any part of Palestine, including in Jerusalem, and over its Holy Sites.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency