The far-right Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir (left) during a previous storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque (social networking sites)

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denounced the Israeli occupation's intention to restrict Palestinian access to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan, while the Israeli security establishment warned that Al-Aqsa would unite Muslims against Israel on both sides of the Green Line.

The Israeli Channel 13 quoted sources as saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to restrict the entry of Palestinians under the age of 50 to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, according to what had been requested by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The channel added that it is expected that an official final decision will be taken in this regard within the next few days.

Hamas said, in a statement, that Netanyahu’s adoption of extremist Minister Ben Gvir’s proposal to restrict the entry of Palestinians from inside and Jerusalem to Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan is “an extension of the Zionist crime and the religious war led by the group of extremist settlers in the terrorist occupation government against the Palestinian people.”

Hamas added that the violation of freedom of worship in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque indicates the occupation’s intention to escalate its aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan.

In its statement, the movement called on the Palestinian people in the occupied interior, Jerusalem, and the occupied West Bank to “reject this criminal decision, resist the brutality of the occupation, and mobilize and march to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

In turn, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said that the occupation government’s intention to prevent our people from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan is “part of a comprehensive war waged by the enemy to end the existence of our people through extermination, displacement, siege of holy sites, expansion of settlement, and cramming our people into killing camps.”

The Front stressed that there is no choice for our people but to defend their existence, and “to counteract this blind hatred and brutal crimes in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and our land occupied in 1948 by escalating all forms of resistance.”

Israeli warnings

On the other hand, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that the Israeli security establishment warned that Al-Aqsa Mosque would unite Muslims against Israel on both sides of the Green Line.

Likewise, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Ben Gvir’s proposal was not accepted by the Israeli army and the Israeli Internal Security Agency (Shin Bet), for fear of escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank and the occurrence of unrest between Palestinians inside and the Israeli police.

The Shin Bet and the army proposed allowing Palestinians aged 45 and over to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the police proposed allowing only those over 60 years of age to enter.

The broadcasting authority added that the police proposed deploying a permanent force in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan, with the aim of immediately dealing with what it described as “incitement campaigns” or raising Hamas flags.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "took a balanced decision that allows freedom of worship within the framework of security restrictions."

While Minister in the War Council, Benny Gantz, denied that any decision had been taken yet regarding the form of restrictions on worshipers in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan, and said that security consultations were continuing.

Ben Gvir's plan stipulates preventing Palestinian worshipers coming from the West Bank and from within the Green Line from entering occupied Jerusalem to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan.

Since the beginning of the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, Israel has limited Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque - especially on Friday - in parallel with the escalation of incursions carried out by its forces in the West Bank.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies