The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has condemned the Israeli Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel’s storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday morning.
The ministry said in a statement that Ariel’s actions come at a time when the Israeli government is expelling Muslim worshippers from the holy site on a daily basis.
Ariel had stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound accompanied by a group of 17 settlers protected by heavily armed Israeli police.
The Palestinian ministry also condemned the Israeli forces’ uprooting of olive trees planted in the vicinity of Bab Al-Rahma (the Golden Gate) and called on the international community and human rights organisations to put an end to the Israeli measures that affect the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Since the beginning of Ramadan, Israeli forces have been storming Al-Aqsa Mosque on a daily basis and forcing Muslim worshippers out of the holy site.
READ: Palestinian dies at Israel checkpoint on route to Al-Aqsa