Jordan demands that Israel remove CCTV cameras placed at Al-Aqsa Mosque

The official spokesperson of the Jordanian government, Mohamed Momani, has demanded for Israel to remove CCTV cameras from the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Occupation authorities installed the surveillance cameras on 8 December to monitor worshippers and awqaf officials who are entrusted with the maintenance and security of the Islamic endowment that oversees the mosque. The new surveillance system also monitors female worshippers who perform prayers at the Mosque of the Dome of the Rock, and comes at a time when extremist Israelis are carrying out increasingly provocative attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on a daily basis.

Jordanian news agency Petra cited Momani as saying: “Jordan does not accept that Israel has set up a police station inside the compound. It is a flagrant military violation of the freedom of worshippers as well as an interference in the affairs of the Jordanian Islamic waqf.”

Jordan is the official custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

Momani called upon the Israeli government to remove all cameras, even those that were installed in 2011 at the Al-Magharbeh Gate, as well as to dismantle the police station inside the mosque.

The spokesperson also reiterated that, “Jordan will not stop efforts to prevent Israel from imposing a new status quo in Jerusalem.”

He pointed out that the Israeli measures against the Al-Aqsa Mosque are in violation of international human rights laws and conventions. In addition, he said that these violations threaten the security of the mosque and undermine the ongoing peace efforts.