Dozens of Palestinians Arrested in Protest Closure of Al-Aqsa Gate

Al-Quds, MINA – Dozens of Palestinians protested for the closing of the Baabur Rahmah gate east of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, from noon to Monday night, some residents were arrested by Israeli police.

The Quds Press correspondent reported that Israeli security forces carried out the closing of the gate, and tightened the entry procedure through identifying the arrival of the mosque.

Some worshipers were forced to perform the Asr prayer on the front page of the gate.

Several residents who were arrested were still being investigated at the Israeli police station, except for the staff of the Islamic Waqf Department, Nazim Bakirat, who was released on condition that he was removed from the mosque for 15 days.

Palestinians asked Palestinian national forces in Al Quds (Jerusalem) to establish regular congregational prayers in front of the gate until the occupation backed away from the decision to close it.

Palestinian forces circulated a statement affirming that Al Quds would remain the property of Arabia and, Islam and that the Al-Aqsa Mosque could not be separated from Muslims.

The statement stressed the action to create a pressure situation to force the occupation and prevent the oppression and abuse of Palestinian people.

Yesterday, Israeli police placed an iron chain with a key on the door above the stairs at the door of Baabur Rahmah.

Al Quds Muslims ask all Palestinians who can travel to Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray in congregation and in front of the gate.

In 2003, the Israeli Inspector General decided to close the gate on the grounds that there was a “terrorist organization” called the “Heritage Committee”, which did not exist permanently in this place.

The police continued to renew the closing decision despite objections from the Islamic Waqf, to revoke this decision repeatedly.

But Israeli police responded in 2017, transferred the matter to an Israeli court and filed a lawsuit against the Islamic Waqf Department and the Heritage Committee and were sued under the law “Combating Terrorism”.

The court decided to close the door until further notice. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)