The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage, in occupied East Jerusalem, stated that dozens of Israeli settlers and soldiers conducted a provocative tour in al-Aqsa Mosque compound, raising Israeli flags, and preventing local worshipers from accessing the site.The Foundation said that this tour is an act of provocation that needs urgent international attention to prevent a serious escalation in the situation.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation stated that raising Israeli flags in the Mosque’s compound, especially a 3-meter flag that was raised at the stairs of the Dome of the Rock is a provocative act and a violation to the sanctity of the holy site.
It added that dozens of soldiers and policemen were deployed in the Mosque yard, accompanying dozens of fundamentalist settlers raising Israeli flags. This is a “serious escalation similar to a recent tour by settlers and soldiers, and part of repeated attempts by fundamentalist group to demolish the mosque”.
The Islamic Movement in the country denounced the Israeli violation, and said that “this tour is part of Israel’s agenda against all Arab and Islamic holy sites”.
These tours are taking place while most Palestinians in the occupied territories are denied access to Muslim and Christian Holy Sites in occupied Jerusalem.
