RAMALLAH, April 12, 2026 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Presidency condemned the storming of the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli colonists led by extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, during which Talmudic prayers were performed under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

In a statement, the Presidency described the move as a blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo at the holy site, a desecration of its sanctity, and a dangerous escalation and unacceptable provocation.

It said such provocations are part of a systematic policy aimed at imposing new realities at Al-Aqsa Mosque, including attempts to enforce temporal and spatial division of the compound.

The Presidency warned of the serious consequences of continued violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, stressing that such actions could have grave repercussions for security and stability in the region.

It further emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over Jerusalem and its holy sites, affirming that the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which spans 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.

The Presidency called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take a firm stance obligating Israel to halt all its violations and unilateral measures in Jerusalem and across the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.

M.N