By Yolande Knell BBC News, Jerusalem
March 10, 2024, 00:29 Japan time
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This location is commonly a flashpoint throughout flare-ups of the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
The elusive ceasefire has renewed issues that violence may unfold, significantly in Jerusalem, in the course of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Hamas reiterated its name to Palestinians to step up visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israel accused Hamas of attempting to “incite the area throughout Ramadan,” which begins within the subsequent few days.
The third holiest shrine in Islam is a spot of worship for native Muslims.
But the location can also be Judaism’s holiest web site, also called the Temple Mount, and is commonly a flashpoint throughout escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
Ramadan is scheduled to start on March tenth or eleventh, relying on the sighting of the brand new moon.
The al-Aqsa courtyard I visited this week was calm, however struggle was on the minds of Palestinian worshipers.
“People should not within the temper to have a good time and revel in regular Ramadan traditions,” mentioned one girl, Ayat, sadly. “It is just not scheduled to be held this yr due to what is occurring in Gaza.”
Hopes {that a} 40-day ceasefire would take impact by the beginning of Ramadan have pale, however Egyptian sources say mediators will meet once more with a Hamas delegation on Sunday to attempt to attain an settlement with Israel. .
Israel introduced on Saturday that its spy chief had met along with his American counterpart because it continues efforts to free dozens of hostages.
Later, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued an announcement saying Hamas was “holding its floor” as if it have been “not excited by an settlement.”
A framework plan being mentioned would see the discharge of some Israeli hostages taken in a lethal Hamas assault on October 7 in trade for elevated Palestinian prisoners and help, because the United Nations warns of famine. will probably be completed.
Abu Nader, who was following the information, mentioned as he crossed Al-Aqsa on his mobility scooter: “This yr’s Ramadan will probably be troublesome. I thought of how I’d break my day by day quick whereas interested by my fellow Gazans.” Would you wish to eat?” he commented.
“We pray to God for higher occasions.”
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Abu Nader says breaking day by day quick is troublesome given starvation ranges in Gaza
Israeli police are continually scattered across the huge Al-Aqsa Mosque complicated, with officers stationed in any respect gates to manage entry.
The web site has change into a distinguished image of the broader Palestinian wrestle since Israel seized, occupied and annexed East Jerusalem, together with this a part of the Old City, from Jordan in the course of the 1967 Middle East struggle.
In 2000, then-Israeli opposition chief Ariel Sharon’s go to to the highest of the sacred hill was seen as a key set off for the second Palestinian rebellion, which Palestinians referred to as the “Al-Aqsa Intifada.” .
There are frequent clashes between Israeli safety forces and Palestinian worshipers right here, particularly throughout Ramadan.
Tensions additionally rise each time Israeli nationalists march within the Old City. This is in response to calls for from Israel’s far proper to vary the nation’s long-established and extremely delicate non secular establishment guidelines, which permit Jewish guests however not Jewish prayers. .
In May 2021, tensions in Jerusalem escalated and violence erupted in Al-Aqsa. Hamas then fired rockets into Jerusalem, sparking a quick struggle in Gaza and widespread unrest between Jews and Arab Israelis.
Last yr, when Ramadan coincided with the Jewish vacation of Passover, reviews emerged that Jewish extremists have been planning to carry out a ritual goat sacrifice on the Temple Mount.
Unable to belief Israeli police to stop them, tons of of Muslims barricaded themselves in al-Aqsa, and stun grenades have been used towards them.
Ramadan this yr doesn’t overlap with any main Jewish holidays.
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Imam Mustafa Abu Swei says folks come to Al-Aqsa Mosque throughout Ramadan to wish, to not fire up tensions.
How this Ramadan unfolds will largely rely upon occasions in Gaza and the restrictions imposed by Israel.
Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir has referred to as for strict restrictions on Muslim Israeli nationals’ entry to al-Aqsa, a transfer Hamas has made as Israeli hostages stay held captive in Gaza. He mentioned this was to stop folks from “celebrating their victories.”
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now rejected the plan. He mentioned worshipers could be allowed into mosques as earlier than in the course of the first week of Ramadan, and the safety scenario could be reassessed weekly.
It is just not but clear what numbers will probably be allowed entry to the location.
During the Gaza struggle, Israel has largely blocked Palestinians from the West Bank from coming into Jerusalem. Tens of hundreds of individuals usually go by means of Israeli navy checkpoints throughout this holy month to attend Friday prayers.
Israeli authorities spokesman Eilon Levy insisted the suitable determination could be made to guard freedom of faith.
“Ramadan presents many alternatives for extremist components to attempt to incite and incite violence, and we’re working to cease that,” he informed the BBC.
“As all the time, we’ll proceed to facilitate entry to the Temple Mount for worship and make it clear that that is our coverage, and naturally we’ll stand towards those that search to disturb the peace. is.”
Next to the golden Dome of the Rock, I met Dr. Imam Mustafa Abu Sway, a member of the Islamic Waqf Council, also called Al-Aqsa Mosque or Haram Al-Sharif.
“A couple of years in the past, Israel allowed virtually anybody who needed to enter from the West Bank and not using a single incident,” the tutorial mentioned.
“People come to worship. They should not coming to disturb the peace. If the Israeli police and safety forces go away them alone, then hopefully all the pieces will probably be positive.”
This yr, greater than ever, the world will probably be scrutinizing what is occurring in Jerusalem and whether or not it’s true.