Israel bans Al-Aqsa custodian from visiting Mosque in Jerusalem

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement condemned the Israeli occupation authority’s decision to ban Sheikh Najeh Bkeerat from Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Bkeerat is the director of the Religious Endowment Department in Al Aqsa Mosque, explained Hamas spokesman for Jerusalem Mohammad Hamada. He has spent his life defending Al-Aqsa Mosque against Israeli violations.

This is the 30th time since 2003 that Israel has banned Sheikh Bkeerat from Al-Aqsa Mosque. In total, this has meant that he has spent seven and a half years unable to enter the mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Israeli occupation forces detained the Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani, as he entered the Noble Sanctuary on Tuesday. He was humiliated and searched before being allowed to enter the Islamic holy site.

Last week, the Israeli occupation forces delayed Britain’s Minister for the Middle East, Lord Tariq Ahmad, for more than half an hour while he was visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque. The minister was subjected to a prolonged security check at the Lions Gate (Bab Al-Asbat).

The occupation state went further on Wednesday when it prevented Jordanian Ambassador to Israel Ghassan Majali from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque, claiming that there had been no coordination for his visit.

Witnesses saw Israeli military policy surrounding Majali as his bodyguards tried to prevent them from touching the ambassador and clear the way for him, but the police insisted on turning him back.

In response, Amman summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest against the humiliation of its ambassador. Jordan reported that a strongly-worded letter of protest was handed to the Israeli ambassador to be delivered immediately to his government.

Jordanian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sinan Majali stated that the letter made it clear that the Kingdom condemns all measures aimed at unacceptable interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The letter reminds Israel that the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department has the exclusive authority to administer the holy site’s affairs and manage entries to the site.

Middle East Monitor / ABC Flash Point News 2023.