The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has warned of an “upcoming outburst of rage” against the Israeli occupying regime over its persistent violations against the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem, al-Quds, and Muslim worshipers in the complex.
“The assaults, provocations and grave practices that have happened recently and are still happening against worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque and its frequenters are all reasons that will pave the way for an upcoming outburst of rage against the occupation and add fuel to the fire,” said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, on Saturday.
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.
During the past year, particularly during the recent months, Israeli extremist settlers and hard-line legislators, under tight military protection, have regularly stormed the compound to perform their religious rituals.
The provocative move infuriates Palestinians, who are almost always barred from having access to the complex during these contested visitations.
Many of the Knesset members are right-wing extremists, who support the demolition of the Islamic site in order to build a Jewish temple instead.
Israeli Knesset member, over 100 settlers storm al-Aqsa Mosque
The Jewish visitation of al-Aqsa is permitted but according to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government after Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem, al-Quds, in 1967; non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited.
Last month, Israeli security forces repeatedly stormed the compound and the Bab al-Rahma and prevented Muslim worshipers from gaining access to the mosque and its premises.
Bab al-Rahma, with an eponymous gate, consists of a large building and a courtyard that lie east of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The building was sealed by Israeli authorities in 2003 after they claimed it was allegedly being used by Palestinians for political activities. The Israeli authorities had renewed the restriction order annually until, in 2017, an Israeli court ordered the building closed until further notice.
According to the Palestine Information Center, hundreds of violations have taken place last month in Jerusalem al-Quds, including home demolitions, Jewish settlers’ break-ins at the compound, and police arrests and assaults against Palestinians.
The spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades further said on Saturday that Hamas held Tel Aviv fully responsible for its ongoing violations at al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that “the resistance’s patience will not last long.”
The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed new tensions ever since US President, Donald Trump, announced his decision in December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem, al-Quds, as Israel’s “capital” and relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the occupied city.
The move infuriated Palestinians, who view the eastern sector of the occupied city as the capital of their future state.
