Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a decision to limit access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan, citing security concerns amidst heightened tensions. The directive, supported by Israeli police and Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, aims to cap the number of Muslim worshippers at the site, particularly during peak prayer times, to prevent potential protests related to the ongoing Gaza conflict. This move has sparked criticism and warnings from various quarters, including Israel's security service, the Shin Bet, which cautioned that such restrictions could escalate tensions and potentially spark a holy war. The Shin Bet chief specifically warned against turning the Gaza conflict into a broader Jewish-Muslim conflict. Critics, including the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sabri, argue that the decision infringes on the freedom of worship and could provoke the global Muslim community, recalling incidents from the previous Ramadan where confrontations led to numerous injuries.
During Ramadan last year, Israeli forces used stun grenades and tear gas, leading to hundreds of injuries. This year, Israeli authorities plan to restrict Palestinian Muslim worshippers' access to al-Aqsa Mosque, provoking the global Muslim community https://t.co/VDxgKLnzOC
Tensions Over Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque As Ramadan Nears https://t.co/vYIjBjpZsd https://t.co/O9ij4ND2iA
Restrictions on Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan raises questions about religious freedom and access to holy sites https://t.co/VDxgKLn1Z4
Israeli minister: Israel won't let Palestinians turn Temple Mount, "that is the most holy for Jews," to a place where "for a month Jews run away [from]," - during Ramadan. https://t.co/hjTlOotAgW
Netanyahu's decision to limit Palestinians' entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque during this Ramadan conflicts with freedom of worship, according to Ekrima Sabri, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem https://t.co/hhW3VjPivK
Opinion: Yisrael Medad discusses the need for Jews and Muslims to reach an agreement over the Temple Mount, highlighting security concerns as Ramadan approaches. https://t.co/Zp2kVgqDvD
#Israel will cap the number of Muslim citizens who take part in peak prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming Ramadan holy month, the police minister says, citing concern the flashpoint site could see protests at the #Gaza war. https://t.co/2hMceFNjRM
Shin Bet chief warns Temple Mount curbs on Ramadan could spark holy war, tells cabinet that limiting Arab Israelis’ access to Al-Aqsa could turn Gaza conflict into Jewish-Muslim fight, playing into hands of Hamas #terrorism https://t.co/xMbraS0l3T
Israeli intelligence (Shin Bet) chief warns Israeli war cabinet against putting curbs on Muslims at Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa to avoid turning the Gaza conflict into a Jewish-Muslim conflict. https://t.co/Z7obo5ZG7d
Shin Bet chief said to warn Temple Mount curbs on Ramadan could spark holy war https://t.co/Aazj5Rgp3V
Israel to limit access to Temple Mount during the holiday of Ramadan #i24NEWS Senior Defense correspondent @jregevi24news has the details https://t.co/K0RpT1z3eS
Israel to restrict access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan, says Israeli PM's office https://t.co/DNU9b9XBVc https://t.co/hKauaIQQpH
Hamas slams Israel over plans to restrict access of Palestinian worshipers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, more Palestinians die from preventable causes as Israel besieges hospitals in Gaza. https://t.co/iAdDnHCI2t
.@DanielSeidemann has also warned about this. Denying Palestinian Muslims access to al-Aqsa during Ramadan could set off a holy war in Jerusalem and the West Bank. https://t.co/4lU2PcZrhf
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu says that he had made a “balanced decision” to allow freedom of worship at Jerusalem’s #AlAqsa Mosque during #Ramadan, but that access would be limited according to security needs. https://t.co/3rYVLeTc2Z https://t.co/cDMga37E29
Netanyahu mulls limitations for Arab Israelis on Temple Mount ahead of Ramadan 'Everybody has righs regardless of their ethnic, religious background, so unless there's a specific alert reason to limit, I think it's a bad idea,' says Maj. (Res.) Elliot Chodoff https://t.co/8ptwIAazNh
The proposal by Israeli police to restrict Palestinians from Al-Aqsa during Ramadan was opposed by Israel's security service, the Shin Bet. Security officials raised concerns that Itamar Ben Gvir would make decisions which could escalate tensions https://t.co/DNg9hbnkrt
Reports: Siding with Ben Gvir, PM plans to limit Arab Israeli Al-Aqsa access on Ramadan https://t.co/2O4By7cQw6
Ben Gvir's directive against Muslim access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan & Smotrich's continued theft/blackmail of the Palestinian Authority's tax revenues will further inflame/destabilize the West Bank & worsen Israel's regional isolation, eroding prospects…