RAMALLAH, Wednesday, April 5, 2023 (WAFA) – The Palestinian presidency and the prime minister this morning strongly condemned Israeli police storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and attacking Muslim worshippers, warning of dire consequences for this action.

The official spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, warned the Israeli occupation authorities against crossing the red lines in the holy places, which will lead to a big explosion.

Abu Rudeineh said that what the occupation authorities are doing at Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking the worshipers represents a brutal war against the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, which will inflame the region.

"We hold the occupation government fully responsible for any deterioration,” he said in a statement. “It must act responsibly and stop this absurdity, which will have dangerous consequences for everyone."

He called on the US administration to act to put a stop to Israel’s playing with fire.

A similar warning was issued by Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh who said that what is happening in Jerusalem is a major crime against worshippers.

“Praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque does not require the permission of the Israeli occupation, but rather it is our right,” he said, stressing that Israel does not want to learn from history, that Al-Aqsa is for the Palestinians and for all Arabs and Muslims, and that storming it sparks a revolution against the occupation.

Israeli police this morning broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem to forcefully remove hundreds of Palestinian worshippers who were holding an all-night Ramadan prayer vigil at the Muslim holy compound.

The police shot tear gas into the mosques in order to get the worshipper out causing serious suffocation cases. Many were also detained.

The Israeli police removed the Muslim worshippers in order to prepare the way for Jewish fanatics to storm the holy compound in the morning.

The fanatics intend to sacrifice offerings at the Muslim holy place as Jews mark Passover holiday, which starts tonight.

As a result of this call, Palestinians have called on Muslims to remain at Al-Aqsa Mosque to prevent the fanatics from desecrating the site, which according to the decades-old status quo is a Muslim-only worship area.

M.K.