Hamas leader calls for break of israeli blockade on Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan
The head of Hamas' Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, has urged Palestinians to break the Israeli-enforced blockade on al-Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Speaking during the presentation of the annual report on "The Situation of al-Quds 2023," Haniyeh emphasized that resorting to political means, backed by the israeli occupation and its ally, the United States, will not achieve what they failed to accomplish through combat.
"Any flexibility we show in negotiations out of concern for the blood of our people is matched by [our] willingness to defend our people," Haniyeh underscored.
He called on the international community, particularly friendly Arab states, to intervene and prevent any potential Israeli invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip.
Highlighting the significance of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, Haniyeh stressed that its primary objective is to end Israeli violations against al-Aqsa Mosque and its worshippers. He warned that increasing restrictions against worshippers would not deter the impact of the operation.
In a gesture of peaceful resistance, Haniyeh urged Palestinians to break the siege of al-Aqsa Mosque on the first day of the upcoming Ramadan month, emphasizing that compliance with international resolutions regarding the mosque is the minimum expectation of the movement.
Currently, access to the mosque complex is severely restricted by the israeli occupation, with only a few dozen worshippers allowed entry while extremist settlers are permitted under occupation forces' protection, defying the sanctity of the site.
During Ramadan, tens to hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers typically flock to the complex for prayers. Israeli intelligence services have warned against the current restrictions, citing potential security risks to the regime.
In conclusion, Haniyeh called on all Resistance forces supporting Gaza to intensify operations against the Israeli occupation, reaffirming al-Aqsa Mosque's pivotal role as "the compass for the Axis of Resistance." (ILKHA)