JERUSALEM, July 24, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli police Monday ordered all staff of the Muslim Waqf (Endowment) department who has been gathering outside the Waqf headquarters in the old city of Jerusalem off the pathway that also leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to the head of the public relations department at the waqf.
Dozens of staff who work inside Al-Aqsa Mosque found themselves stranded outside the walled compound after Israeli police insisted on anyone entering the Muslim holy site to pass through metal detectors recently placed at the entrances to the mosque plaza.
The Waqf, which is a Jordanian government department responsible for Al-Aqsa compound, also known as al-Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary, strongly opposed the installation of the metal detectors, which it said was an infringement on its authority as sole custodian over the Muslim site and on the long-standing status quo at the holy place.
It called on its staff and people in general not to enter the mosque through the metal detectors. As a result, dozens of staff have been showing up every day at the Waqf headquarters at al-Nather Gate, where they have been holding a vigil in protest against the new Israeli measures.
The general public as well who refuse to enter the mosque through the metal detectors have been holding the five daily Muslim prayers outside the gates and in the streets.
Israeli police often attack the worshippers following the prayers leaving many injuries.
The latest attack happened Sunday after the night prayer when thousands of Palestinians held prayers in the street leading to Lions’ Gate, one of the main gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said 21 people were injured in the police crackdown on the worshippers, 15 of them were hurt by rubber-coated metal bullets and six required hospitalization. The rest were beaten and suffered from smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, the standstill over the crisis caused from the installation of the metal detectors continued for the second week in a row as world condemnation of the Israeli measure is on the rise with calls on Israel to remove them and respect the status quo.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold a special meeting on Monday on the critical developments in Jerusalem.
The Quartet envoys, who include Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, said in a joint press statement on Saturday that they were “deeply concerned by the escalating tensions and violent clashes taking place in and around the Old City of Jerusalem.”
They called on all parties “to demonstrate maximum restraint, refrain from provocative actions and work towards de-escalating the situation.”
M.K.
