The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine has issued a stark warning about Israel’s attempts to impose a new reality at Al-Aqsa Mosque as the holy month of Ramadan begins tomorrow, Saturday.
In a statement by the head of the Committee and member of the PLO Executive Committee, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, the Committee condemned Israel’s decision to intensify repressive measures during this sacred month. These measures include restricting the number of worshippers and issuing expulsion orders designed to empty Al-Aqsa Mosque, sever its connection to its Palestinian surroundings, and take full control as part of the broader plan to Judaize Jerusalem and its holy sites.
The statement further highlighted Israel’s continued assault on the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, aimed at erasing its Islamic identity, altering its religious and legal status, and erasing its historical heritage.
Khouri stressed that the Palestinian people are entering Ramadan under the shadow of a brutal Israeli military assault, collective punishment, siege, mass arrests, systematic destruction, and forced displacement. The situation is particularly dire in the northern West Bank, where refugee camps are being destroyed and their residents forcibly expelled, an implementation of the far-right Israeli government’s plan to annex Palestinian land.
The Committee also drew attention to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Palestinian people face severe shortages of food, medical aid, and basic necessities amid widespread destruction. The harsh winter conditions have already claimed the lives of several newborns.
In light of these grave escalations, the Committee called on the Arab and Islamic nations, international institutions, and churches worldwide to take immediate action to stop the aggression, end the occupation, hold war criminals accountable, and safeguard the Palestinian people, their land, and their holy sites.
The statement concluded with a prayer that this holy month brings Palestinians closer to their rightful aspirations for freedom, independence, and a sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital. The Committee also, on this occasion, honored the memory of the martyrs, wished a swift recovery for the wounded, and called for the immediate release of all prisoners and detainees.
