Hamas: ‘Racist Israeli policies against Islamic sites anger Muslims’

“Racist Israeli policies against the Islamic holy sites anger Muslims,” Hamas said referring to the Israeli bill to ban on the Muslim call for prayer in Jerusalem and its outskirts, the Anadolu Agency reported.

In a statement, Hamas described this measure as a “continuation of the Israeli Judaisation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and imposing new laws which are unacceptable to Palestinians and Muslims in general.”

Hamas called on all Muslims to stand up against the Israeli violations of Jerusalem and the holy sites in the city, including Al-Aqsa Mosque. It reiterated that it would not allow the passage of this Israeli bill.

The Palestinian movement also called for the other Palestinian factions to stand against the bill and challenge all Israeli decisions targeting Islamic holy sites.

Earlier, the Palestinian parliament criticised the bill calling it “outrageous”. In a statement, it said: “Forbidding the athan [Muslim call to prayer] is an outrageous provocation to the feelings of Muslims everywhere and unacceptable interference in worship and religious practices.”

Israeli right-wing government approved the bill early this week, but after interference of Jewish rabbis, the Knesset put off its approval. The Jewish rabbis, Anadolu said, are afraid this bill will affect any of their rituals where they use loudspeakers.