The Palestinian resistance has successfully forced the Israeli government to prohibit settlers from storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision, which was a result of a “comprehensive security assessment”.
#Jewish visitors and tourists will be banned from the #Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem until the end of the holy #Muslim month of #Ramadan, a statement from #Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu‘s office said on Tuesday. https://t.co/SZnxkuNwiD
— ANews (@anews) April 11, 2023
Settlers were prohibited from storming the mosque from Wednesday onwards. This decision demonstrated that the Palestinian resistance was capable of deterring the Israeli government, and was becoming stronger through its unity especially through the “unity of its arenas” which was announced by several resistance fronts in the region.
Since the start of the “Jewish Passover,” nearly 4,000 settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque, leading to confrontations with Palestinians. These confrontations have led to brutal attacks on worshippers and damage to the mosque. In addition to this, the Israeli government has continued to tighten military measures in the Jordan Valley for five consecutive days.
‘Defeatist Decision’
In the details, according to the Hebrew “Ynet” website, Netanyahu made the decision after conducting deliberations in recent days. Following a comprehensive assessment of the security situation, Netanyahu instructed his office to facilitate all procedures for settlers’ access to the Al-Buraq Wall. The leaders of the security services unanimously agreed to prohibit incursions starting Wednesday, instead of Tuesday, which had previously allowed hundreds of settlers to storm Al-Aqsa.
This decision was made in light of the escalating Palestinian resistance against the attacks and brutality of the occupation towards men and women stationed in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The “Returning to the Temple Mount Movement”, known for their extreme beliefs, expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s ‘defeatist decision’, claiming that the promises of elected officials are merely empty words. “We condemn the government’s defeatist decision. We are disappointed and it turns out that the promises of elected officials are empty words,” it said.
The mosque has already witnessed the storming of nearly 4,000 settlers during Passover, resulting in injuries, arrests, and damage to the mosque.
Confrontations & Bravery
The Israeli decision comes in light of the continuation of confrontations between the resistance fighters and the enemy forces in many areas of Al-Quds and the occupied West Bank. Confrontations between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces are ongoing in many areas of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the occupied West Bank, including Al-Aroub refugee camp in Al-Khalil (Hebron).
Clashes broke out at dawn on Wednesday, between young men and the Israeli occupation forces in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, while the occupation army fired flares over the towns of al-Ram and Jaba, north of the city.
According to Palestinian sources, clashes broke out with the occupation forces at Bab al-Mahlas (one of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque) in the Old City, where the young men confronted the forces by firing firecrackers at them.
The same sources indicated that the forces fired sound and gas bombs at the young men, in addition to chasing them in the narrow streets.
In Al-Khalil, clashes also broke out in Al-Aroub refugee camp, amid heavy firing of live bullets and tear gas canisters at the citizens.
Today, at dawn, Palestinian youths managed to burn a military tower belonging to the occupation army at the Shuafat refugee camp checkpoint in occupied Jerusalem. According to local sources, fire broke out in the military tower used by the occupation forces for surveillance, after the youths fired fireworks at it.
Caution Remains
Despite the decision, there is still a danger of Zionist revenge against the mosque and those who are stationed there.
Hassan Khater, Secretary-General of the Islamic Christian Association, warned of a major Zionist plot to storm the mosque during the last days of the Passover holiday, and called for worshipers and guards to be vigilant.
Khater believed that his cautionary remarks “were prompted by the inaction of the occupying government to meet any of its commitments to the Temple organizations in the preceding phase. The organizations were apprehensive that this current phase, in which an extreme right-wing administration has control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy City, would elapse without the fulfillment of their aspirations.” “This environment could indeed impel these groups and their Zionist adherents to perpetrate drastic actions within the precincts of the Al-Aqsa Mosque,” he warned.
Tight Measures
For the fifth day in a row, the occupying forces have persisted in imposing strict military measures in the Jordan Valley, causing immense hardship for the local populace. The situation remains tense, with the possibility of further violence from the Israeli side.
Local sources have reported that the occupying forces have intensified their military operations at the Tayaseer and Hamra military checkpoints, leading to a stifling traffic jam. For four long days, ordinary citizens have been facing unbearable struggles in reaching their workplaces and farmlands in the Jordan Valley, owing to the oppressive blockade that the occupying forces have imposed on several areas, most notably the village of Frush Beit Dajan in the Central Jordan Valley.
This draconian siege has been ostensibly enforced by the occupying forces in response to a valiant shooting operation near the Hamra checkpoint, which killed three settlers.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians and injured another in the village of Deir al-Hatab, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the victims as Saud al-Titi and Mohammad Abu Dira’.
According to reports, Israeli forces fired upon three Palestinians, resulting in two fatalities and one injury. Medical crews from the Palestinian Red Crescent Emergency and Ambulance Department were prevented from attending to the injured victims. Additionally, the Israeli soldiers detained the bodies of the two slain Palestinians and refused to hand them over.
According to the Ministry, 98 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the year from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem. Added to these martyrs are the two young men, Muhammad al-Osaibi and Yusef Abu Jaber, from the occupied territories, which raises the number to 100.
Source: Al-Manar Website
