RAMALLAH, February 25, 2025 (WAFA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Tuesday warned against the set of new restrictions mulled by Israel on Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding area in the Old City of Jerusalem ahead of Ramadan.

The Ministry slammed in a statement the Israeli policy of tightening access to the mosque compound as a flagrant violation of citizens' right to freedom of worship and freedom of access to places of worship.

It affirmed that these restrictions constitute an extension of the occupation's aggression against the Palestinian people, and an attempt to forcefully introduce changes to the political, historical, and legal status quo in the occupied territories, in general, and in Al-Aqsa, in particular, as a prelude to divide the holy site, if not demolish it, and build a temple on its ruins.

It pledged to act and exert efforts at the international level to expose Israeli violations against Christian and Islamic sanctities as well as against their staff members and worshipers, calling for urgent international intervention to protect them and guarantee freedom of worship for Palestinians.

A.D./ K.F.