Israeli police have blocked the entry of Muslims to the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. It is known that Jews are being given the opportunity to pray there.
This information was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, citing the Islamic Waqf Department in charge of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to the report, only Jews are entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque premises since Tuesday (October 24) morning. Israeli police allowed Jews to pray there.
The Wafer report further states,
"Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy place for Muslims. Only they pray there. But breaking the rules the Jews prayed there."
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed another 704 Palestinians in the previous 24 hours to Tuesday. The Gaza Ministry of Health confirmed the matter.
According to the latest information, 5 thousand 791 people have lost their lives in Gaza due to Israeli attacks. 16 thousand 287 people were injured. In addition, the death toll in the West Bank rose to 96, with 1,828 injured.
On the other hand, 1 thousand 405 people were killed in Israel by the attack of the Palestinian independence group Hamas. And 5 thousand 431 people were injured.
Why is Al-Aqsa Mosque so special in Islam?
The birthplace of Islam is Mecca and Medina. Which is located in present day Saudi Arabia. The two holy mosques located in these two ancient cities are two very important religious places for the followers of Islam and Muslims.
After that Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Palestine is considered as the third most important religious site in Islam. Like the mosques of Mecca and Medina, every year thousands of Muslims from Palestine and different countries of the world come to this mosque premises. But the mosque is being surrounded by the excesses of the occupying Israeli forces.
Now the Israeli police and security forces are regularly conducting search operations in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque. Not only Israeli forces, Israeli settlers and illegal settlers are also seen entering the mosque premises from time to time. Last Thursday, a group of Israeli settlers entered the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque. As usual, they were provided security by the Israeli police.
According to eyewitnesses, a large group of Israeli settlers broke into several factions and entered the Holy Mosque and performed religious rituals in its premises. However, Jews are prohibited from entering Al-Aqsa.
Nevertheless, since 2003 the Israeli occupation authorities have allowed Jews to enter the mosque premises almost every day except Friday. Muslims perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa every Friday.
For the past few years, the occupying Israeli forces have attacked Al-Aqsa during the holy month of Ramadan. As a result, clashes and violence occurred between Israeli forces and Palestinians. The mosque is also seen as a symbol of Palestinian resistance against the occupiers.
Al Aqsa Mosque keys returned after 56 years
Palestinians living in East Jerusalem can enter and pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sometimes they are also blocked. Incidents of violence surrounding this holy structure are not new. Recently, a former Israeli soldier returned the key to a gate of this holy mosque.
In a report, the Turkish-based news agency Anadolu Agency said that the soldier's name was Yar Barak. He stole the key 56 years ago.
Barak said he took the key from the western gate of Al Aqsa during the 1967 war.
Lately he has regretted it. He just started thinking, he made a mistake. So Barak decided to return the key to its owner.
A video released by the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem shows the organization's director general Sheikh Azam al-Khatib receiving the key from a man named Yar Barak.
Correcting his decision, he added, Israel should return the land, rights, dignity and freedom to the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, an Israeli military court sentenced three Israeli soldiers to prison for harassing a Palestinian man and obstructing the investigation of the incident.
Two were jailed for 60 days and one for 40 days and were dismissed, the military statement said.
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