OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Jerusalem Governorate has accused the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) of preventing the Islamic Awqaf Administration from carrying out its annual preparations to welcome and receive Muslim worshipers at the Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
Since the beginning of this year, more than 250 Palestinians have received Israeli orders banning their entry to the Aqsa Mosque, according to the Governorate.
In a statement on Monday, the Governorate also accused the IOA of seeking to impose unilateral measures contradicting the long-standing historical and legal status quo at the Aqsa Mosque.
The Governorate highlighted that all the Israeli unilateral measures in Occupied Jerusalem are illegal under international law.
The Governorate affirmed that the IOA recently tightened its restrictions on Islamic Awqaf employees, banishing about 25 staff members from the Aqsa Mosque and arresting four of them, in an attempt to weaken the Awqaf Department’s ability to manage the Mosque’s affairs, especially during Ramadan.
It added that the IOA also banned the Awqaf Administration from making preparations at the Aqsa Mosque for the reception of Muslim visitors during Ramadan, including installing canopies to shield worshipers from sun or rain and setting up temporary outdoor clinics.
