'Occupation's religious war': Hamas slams Israeli restrictions at al-Aqsa, Ibrahimi mosques

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned the Israeli restrictions against al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi mosques, noting that attacks against mosques are part of the regime's "religious war" against Palestinians.

The movement released a statement on Friday after Israeli forces raided several mosques in Nablus, occupied West Bank, and restricted the access of thousands of fasting Muslim worshipers to al-Aqsa Mosque and Ibrahimi Mosque in East al-Quds and al-Khalil respectively.

Hamas said the raids "represent an intensification of the occupation’s religious war and an attack on Islamic sanctities as part of its open war against our people and land."

Hamas called on the Palestinian masses in the West Bank to escalate all forms of resistance and to intensify their presence and efforts to reach al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi Mosques and to repel the occupation’s aggression against mosques and sanctities.

Meanwhile, Hamas official Haroun Nasser al-Din said on Friday that Israel’s refusal to open the Ibrahimi Mosque and hand it over to the Palestinian authorities during the blessed month of Ramadan is part of a plan to completely control it.

He further said the new move is a blatant and dangerous violation within the series of ongoing attacks on Islamic sanctities by the regime.

Israel’s “continuous and escalating steps constitute a blatant attack on the status of the Ibrahimi Mosque, and a blatant and dangerous violation within the series of ongoing attacks on Islamic sanctities,” al-Din added.

Hundreds of Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound: Report

Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to a recent report.

Elsewhere in his remarks, al-Din warned that Israel's continued and escalating actions are a clear violation of the Ibrahimi Mosque's status.

The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said Israeli authorities refused to hand over sections of the Ibrahimi Mosque to Palestinian authorities, as is customary on Fridays during the holy month of Ramadan.

Separately, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the international community to intervene to “enable our people to freely enter occupied al-Quds and pray there”.

The calls come as Israel restricted access to al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office earlier announced Israeli forces will limit the number of worshippers from the occupied West Bank who are allowed to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.

Under the new restrictions, only men over 55, women over 50 and children under 12 will be permitted to enter on the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency, citing sources, reported that Israeli troops stormed eight mosques in Nablus in the occupied West Bank, “vandalizing and damaging them”.

Israeli forces violently raid Nablus mosques on first Friday of Ramadan

The Israeli regime’s forces have stormed several mosques in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on the first Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Israeli military vehicles stormed multiple neighborhoods in the city and fired live ammunition, stun grenades and tear gas canisters over the past few hours.

A number of Palestinians were also detained during the raids and military operations across the occupied region.

The developments coincide with ongoing daily incursions by hundreds of Israeli settlers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month alongside increasing restrictions on Palestinians travelling from the occupied West Bank.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir