A heavy silence fell over the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on the morning of Eid al-Fitr, as the Eid takbeers were absent from its squares for the first time in 59 years. The occupation authorities prevented worshippers from reaching the mosque, leaving its courtyards completely empty in a scene that sparked a wide wave of sadness and anger among Palestinians.
This prevention comes after a series of repressive measures that included closing the mosque and the Old City in occupied Jerusalem since late February. The occupation authorities used the declaration of a state of emergency to justify this closure, which deprived thousands of worshippers from observing the last ten days of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr within the confines of the first Qibla.
Field sources reported that occupation forces imposed a tight security cordon around Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing even residents of the Old City from approaching the main gates. This step is considered an unprecedented escalation targeting the Palestinian presence and the Islamic identity of the holy city during the holiest religious occasions.
Despite the strict restrictions, worshippers showed great determination to perform their rituals, as social media platforms circulated videos of hundreds of citizens performing prayers in the streets near Bab Al-Asbat. These scenes reflected the steadfastness of Jerusalemites in the face of the occupation's attempts to empty the mosque of its inhabitants and guardians.
In a religious and political response, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, issued an urgent call to journey to the blessed mosque despite the closure. Sabri affirmed that prayer under these circumstances becomes obligatory at the closest point accessible from the walls of Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Sheikh Sabri emphasized in his call to the people of Jerusalem, the occupied interior, and the West Bank the necessity of being present in large numbers at the gates and thresholds of the mosque. He considered performing prayers in the streets leading to Al-Aqsa a religious and national duty aimed at breaking the military siege imposed on it.
On the ground, occupation forces escalated their measures against the guards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, forcibly removing one of them from his workplace. The occupation's repression teams also attempted to disperse gatherings of worshippers who tried to perform Isha and Taraweeh prayers in the alleys surrounding the mosque.
Social media platforms erupted with expressions of anger and condemnation from Arab and Palestinian activists who considered the decision a serious infringement on religious rights. Guardians described this year as the harshest ever, considering that the emptiness of Al-Aqsa from worshippers leaves a deep wound in the Islamic conscience.
Bloggers and analysts criticized the suspicious international silence regarding the continued closure of the mosque for more than twenty consecutive days without an official reaction commensurate with the gravity of the event. They pointed out that merely issuing written condemnations gives the occupation a green light to continue its systematic violations against holy sites.
Observers warned that the occupation seeks through these measures to test popular and official reactions in preparation for more dangerous steps. They expressed concerns that the closure might be part of a Talmudic plan aimed at imposing a new reality in the administration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and dividing it temporally and spatially.
In conclusion, specialists in Jerusalem affairs believe that what is happening is part of a comprehensive strategic war aimed at changing the status quo in the city. Questions remain about the role of the international community and human rights organizations in protecting freedom of worship and preserving the historical and legal status of Islamic holy sites.
Prayer is obligatory at the closest possible point to Al-Haram Al-Sharif to break the siege imposed on the first of the two Qiblas.
שתף את דעתך
For the first time in decades.. The occupation prevents Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque