Extremist Minister Reiterates Call to Restrict Muslims’ Access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan
In a Sunday meeting with the regime’s police commissioner Kobi Shabtai, he called for restricting the number of Muslim worshippers so that the Israeli armed forces may maintain readiness to swiftly suppress any probable protests of worshippers against the occupying regime.
According to the Israeli daily Maariv, the regime’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss the issue of restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan with Ben Gvir, Shabtai, and officials from the Shin Bet security service and the Israeli military on Monday.
Last month, Israeli security agencies opposed Ben Gvir's intention to prohibit Palestinians from the West Bank from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
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The restrictions come amid Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, where the number of people killed since October 7 now tops 30,000, most of them children.
With access to the holy site already limited for prayers, especially on Fridays, since October 7 when the regime launched its fresh aggression on Gaza, the move to impose tougher restrictions in Ramadan was deemed extremely provocative and dangerous by many observers and rights groups.
During Ramadan, the mosque becomes a focal point for Palestinian religious life and identity as thousands of worshippers gather in the vast courtyard of the third holiest site in Islam.
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Al-Aqsa, which represents a symbol of Palestine’s faith, identity, history and resistance, has been turned into a flashpoint by the Israeli regime in recent years by targeting Palestinian worshippers.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli police have imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshippers from all areas, especially on Fridays, from entering the mosque.
Source: Agencies
