In a powerful display of solidarity and resistance, hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Gaza on Monday to voice their outrage over the intrusion of Israeli settlers into the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, situated in occupied East Jerusalem.
The call for the rally came from the Hamas resistance group, the governing authority in Gaza since 2007, and it took place in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
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Mushir al-Masri, a senior leader within Hamas, addressed the crowd, denouncing Israel’s actions as an attempt to reshape the reality within Al-Aqsa Mosque. He fervently asserted, “We will not allow the Israeli occupation to encroach upon Al-Aqsa or implement any agenda against it.” Al-Masri emphasized that these ongoing incursions by settlers could have dire consequences for the entire region.
Earlier on that fateful Monday, the Islamic Waqf Department, under Jordanian administration, reported that 1,142 Israeli settlers, with the protection of police forces, forcefully entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex via the Al-Mughrabi Gate. This trespassing was part of their celebration of Sukkot, a weeklong Jewish holiday that began on September 29 and is set to conclude on October 6. Sukkot marks the culmination of a series of Jewish holidays that commenced with Rosh Hashanah on September 15.
Regrettably, the roads leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque bore witness to Israeli police using force against worshipers, obstructing their entry into the sacred place.
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It’s imperative to recognize that Al-Aqsa Mosque holds immense significance for Muslims, ranking as the third holiest site in the world. Simultaneously, Jews refer to this area as the “Temple Mount,” asserting its historical connection to two Jewish temples in ancient times.
The dispute over East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque stands, dates back to the 1967 Arab-Israeli War when Israel occupied the region. In 1980, Israel proceeded to annex the entire city, a move that has never gained international recognition.
The latest incursion by Israeli settlers and the subsequent response from Palestinians in Gaza underscores the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding this sacred site, which remains at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
