Haniyeh urges Palestinians to march on Al-Aqsa Mosque on 1st day of Ramadan
Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of Hamas, has called on the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to march on Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“The siege of Al-Aqsa and the siege of Gaza are one and the same,” Haniyeh said in a televised message on Wednesday.
Haniyeh was referring to an announcement by the Israeli regime that it would impose restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds during Ramadan according to “security needs.”
The first day of Ramadan this year falls on March 10 or 11.
“Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites must be managed in accordance with international law. Our people will defend their mosques, churches, and holy sites with all forms of resistance.”
The chief of the Palestinian resistance movement said the rise in Israel’s attacks in the West Bank is part of a comprehensive plan to displace all Palestinians.
Ramadan has historically seen an escalation of Israeli violence against the Palestinians, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
This year’s Ramadan is expected to be more violent than previous years given the regime’s incessant bombing of Gaza.
The genocidal US-backed war started after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities.
Israel has also martyred at least 410 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, in addition to over 4,600 others injured.
On the ongoing talks on a ceasefire, Haniyeh said Hamas was showing flexibility in negotiations with the regime but at the same time it was ready to continue fighting.
“Any flexibility shown in negotiating with Israel is matched by our willingness to defend our people.”
In his remarks, Haniyeh also called on the Axis of Resistance to step up support for the Palestinians in Gaza.
“It is the duty of the Arab and Islamic nations to take the initiative to break the starvation conspiracy in Gaza,” Haniyeh said, referring to Israel’s policy of blocking the Palestinians’ access to food.
SS
