Israel increases police around Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa for Ramadan

Thousands of Palestinians get ready to observe Tarawih, prayers during Ramadan, starting on Sunday

Israeli authorities have bolstered their presence around the contentious Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, as a large number of Palestinians gear up for the Tarawih, special nightly prayers observed during the sacred month of Ramadan. 

As per reports from Israeli Channel 12, the heightened police deployment is in response to fears of escalated security tensions in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank during Ramadan. 

Residents of Jerusalem received cautionary text messages discouraging involvement in any disturbances, while leaflets were circulated in the eastern neighborhoods of East Jerusalem advising against engaging in “riots” throughout Ramadan. 

Al-Aqsa Mosque holds significant religious importance as the third-holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, citing its historical connection to two ancient Jewish temples. 

Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel seized control of East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is situated, and later annexed the entire city in 1980, a move not recognized internationally. 

Tensions have remained heightened in the West Bank since Israel initiated a lethal military operation in the Gaza Strip following an attack by Hamas last October, resulting in the deaths of over 420 Palestinians and injuries to over 4,600 others, as reported by the Health Ministry. 

Israel faces allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which, in a preliminary judgment in January, instructed Tel Aviv to halt genocidal activities and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, where over 31,000 individuals have lost their lives. 

Source: AA