Israeli settlers illegally enter Al Aqsa Mosque, flouting status quo
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Jerusalem: Reports suggest that Israeli settlers are illegally entering Al Aqsa Mosque here, which the global Muslims consider a holy place. Also, the Israeli Police is backing the settlers, providing them protection to enter the site. Dozens of Israeli settlers reportedly entered the Al Aqsa compound, formed groups, wandered around and conducted ‘Talmudic’ rituals.
According to the Iranian news agency ABNA, 915 settlers entered the compound under the protection of Israeli Police. In August, 8,134 settlers entered the compound and performed rituals, according to reports.
In the first week of last month, Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, along with others, entered the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound here and offered prayers, flouting a decades-old “status quo” arrangement, which prohibits Jews from doing so. The “status quo”, overseen by a Jordanian religious foundation, allows Jews to visit the compound but prohibits them from offering prayers. However, this “status quo” arrangement is fragile.
It is widely seen that the right-wing minister of the Zionist nation, who is committing genocide against Muslims in Gaza, could be making some sort of statement. Ben-Gvir, who led a group of Jewish people into the compound for prayers, renewed his demand for Israel to declare sovereignty over Gaza. Muslim nations and the international Muslim community condemned the Zionist minister's conduct. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson released a statement saying that the Gvir “crossed all red lines”.
Palestinian leaders have flagged ‘imminent threats’ citing ‘aggressive actions’ by Israeli settlers and the Zionist nation’s far-right government’s expanding plans.
There are allegations that the Benjamin Netanyahu government in Israel are intensifying efforts to change the Mosque’s status quo through tunnel excavations, intending to fabricate historical ties to Judaism. The Israeli efforts are backed by the US administration, allegations suggest. Israel is accused of rewriting history by promoting a false narrative of ancient Jewish presence at the site.