Resistance groups: Israeli prayers at al-Aqsa 'declaration of war'

Palestinian resistance movements say a decision by an Israeli court to grant Jewish people the right to so-called “silent” prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a dangerous violation of Islamic sanctities.

In a joint statement on Friday, they said the “sinister” decision will pave the way for the Israeli conspiracy to divide al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews, and allow extremist settlers to continue their aggression against the third holiest site in Islam.

The resistance movements said al-Aqsa Mosque lies at the heart of Muslims’ religious beliefs, and that Palestinians will not compromise on even an inch of their lands and the sacred site.

They also warned the Israeli regime against any act of aggression against the holy compound.

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They further called for a large congregation inside the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to show their strop opposition to the "oppressive" court ruling against Palestinian lands and sanctities.

The resistance groups demanded the entire Muslim world defend al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque against Israeli occupiers and their conspiracies.

On Thursday, an Israeli magistrate court ruled not to regard prayers by Jewish worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque as a “criminal act” if they remained silent.

'Clear declaration of war'

Hamas decried the court’s decision as a “blatant aggression” against the sacred site, and a clear declaration of a war against Islam and its sanctities.

“The Occupation continues its sinister policies and plans to divide the al-Aqsa Mosque compound both in terms of time and space. The move also paves the way for further incursions and desecrations by Zionists,” the group said in a statement.

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It emphasized that any act of aggression against al-Aqsa Mosque would exacerbate the current volatile situation, and have a spillover effect on the occupying Israeli regime.

Hamas added that last May’s Operation Sword of al-Quds will not be the last battle for al-Quds, and that the “resistance is prepared to repel any aggression and defend Palestinian rights.”

“We call on our Palestinian compatriots in al-Quds and elsewhere across the occupied lands to converge en masse on the al-Aqsa Mosque compound to confront the Israeli occupation's partition plans and growing intrusions into the site,” the statement said.

The Gaza-based resistance movement also urged Arab and Muslim nations to take on their religious responsibility to defend al-Aqsa Mosque. 

Separately, Jordan’s Council of Endowments, which manages the Islamic edifices in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, called the Israeli court’s ruling a “flagrant violation of the Islamic and sanctity of the mosque and a clear provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world.”

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound sits just above the Western Wall plaza and houses both the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.

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According to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government after Israel’s occupation of East al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound is prohibited.

Many of the Israeli Knesset (parliament) members are right-wing extremists, who apparently support the demolition of the Islamic site in order to build a Jewish temple instead.

Palestinians want the occupied West Bank as part of their future independent state and view al-Quds’ eastern sector as the capital of their future sovereign state.

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