The Director General of the Department of Islamic Endowments and Affairs of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, described the year 2022 as the worst and highest in terms of violations by the Israeli occupation and extremist settlers of the Holy Mosque.
Al-Khatib said in a statement yesterday, Thursday, that "the intensity and pace of the raids increased during this year, bringing the total number of Jewish extremists who stormed from the Mughrabi Gate side of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to 48,238 extremists."
Al-Khatib explained that the violations committed by the occupation authorities against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque did not stop at the militarization of the squares and the conversion of the mosque into a military barracks.
He pointed out that the unprecedented provocative actions included prayers, prostrations, and the performance of public Talmudic rituals, chants, singing, and dancing inside the courtyards, in addition to raising Israeli flags inside the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jewish occasions and holidays during this year.
The violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the year - according to the Endowment Department's statement - "in light of dangerous and rapid developments led by extreme right-wing Israeli governments that will lead to igniting a religious war in the region and the world."
Al-Khatib reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its area of 144 dunums and all its features and facilities above and below the ground, is purely for Muslims all over the world and does not accept division or partnership, despite all attempts to change the existing religious, historical and legal situation.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem is affiliated to the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and is responsible for managing the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Since 2003, Israel has decided unilaterally to allow settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, guarded by the Israeli occupation police, despite the objections of the Islamic Endowment.
Jews were allowed to visit the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, but they were not allowed to perform prayers there.
Palestinian officials fear an exacerbation of tension in Al-Aqsa Mosque with the formation of the new right-wing Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.