Tensions escalated in occupied Jerusalem on the eve of the so-called anniversary of the destruction of the Temple, after Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid decided not to prevent settlers, including Knesset members, from storming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, while the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Ismail Haniyeh condemned this step. He referred to contacts taking place with Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations in this regard.
The Israeli police said that they would allow Knesset members, including extremists, to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and would not prevent settlers as well, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, which confirmed that the police would allow all activities scheduled in Jerusalem on Sunday, including the arrival of Jews to the Temple Mount.
In turn, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said that the government will not prevent settlers from storming Al-Aqsa, including members of the Knesset, according to what Israeli media reported.
This development comes in conjunction with the ongoing Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
Late on Saturday evening, groups of settlers performed Talmudic prayers in front of one of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
These groups had arrived at Bab al-Amud in occupied Jerusalem, raising the flag of Israel, with the start of the so-called “destruction of the Temple” memorial.
Anadolu Agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying that extremist Knesset member Itamar Ben Gvir and dozens of settlers stormed Bab Al-Qattanin area, one of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Old Jerusalem, raising Israeli flags, in preparation for storming the mosque on Sunday morning.
Settlers' flags march towards Bab al-Amud pic.twitter.com/eEjHvCmCKR
— AlQastal Al Qastal (@AlQastalps) August 6, 2022
Hamas and Jordan
On the other hand, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, said that the movement is communicating with the brothers in Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations and confirms its rejection of what the occupation plans to storm Al-Aqsa.
Hamas also confirmed - in a statement on Saturday - that the Palestinian people are "unified in confronting the aggression and defending their land and holy sites," and that it "holds the occupation responsible for the repercussions of the incursion and its unpredictable consequences while it continues its barbaric aggression on the Gaza Strip."
In turn, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that he assured the UN envoy to the Middle East, Tor Wencesland, the need to prevent any provocations in the Haram al-Sharif and to respect the status quo, stressing that the continuation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip will lead to broader cycles of violence for which everyone will pay.
According to Anadolu Agency, calls have escalated for weeks from Israeli extremist groups to carry out large-scale incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque on Saturday and Sunday, on the occasion of what they say is the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple.
For the second day in a row, the Israeli army continues to launch raids on the Gaza Strip, as part of a military operation that it started on Friday afternoon, against targets it said belong to the Islamic Jihad movement, which resulted in 24 martyrs and 203 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
On the other hand, Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, continues to fire rockets and mortar shells at Israeli sites and cities.