Tel Aviv: Israeli authorities have approved a plan to restrict the entry of Palestinians living in Israel to the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, starting in the second week of next month, local media reported on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved to the recommendations of far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, despite the country’s security agency warning that restrictions on Palestinians’ access to the Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month could add fuel to the fire.
Despite warnings from the Shin Bet (internal security agency) of potential problems between Palestinians inside Israel and the Israeli police, Netanyahu agreed to to limit the access of Palestinians to the Al Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming Ramadan.
According to the media reports Netanyahu administration will make an official announcement on this issue in the coming days.
Different Israeli media outlets have reported that the Shin Bet had warned the government that restricting Palestinians from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan could lead to major disturbances.
The security agency had also warned that this decision could cause more tensions in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and surrounding areas in occupied territories.
Fridays Restrictions
Last Friday, approximately 25,000 Palestinians entered the Al Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem to perform Friday prayers for the first time since the war started despite Israeli restrictions.
The Palestinians since October 7 have been barred by the Israeli authorities from offering prayers in the mosque.
Israel bombardment in Gaza Strip has killed nearly 29,000 and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
According to the United Nations, the Israeli war on Gaza has forced 85 percent of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of clean water, food, and medicine, while 60 percent of the Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.
Israel is blamed of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim court ruling in January had ordered Israel to stop genocidal acts and take steps to guarantee that humanitarian aid is provided to civilians in Gaza.
