Occupied Jerusalem, March 13 (SANA) Attacks on mosques in the West Bank have intensified this Ramadan amid Israeli settlement expansion policies. Closures of Al-Aqsa Mosque have coincided with repeated settler assaults on religious sites, raising concerns over efforts to tighten Israeli control in the area.
Mosque Arsons in Nablus
On Wednesday, settlers set fire to a mosque in Madama, south of Nablus, leaving racist graffiti on its walls. Residents managed to contain the blaze before it spread inside, limiting damage to the entrance. This followed a similar attack in Tal village just days earlier, signaling a rise in assaults on places of worship.
Palestinian Officials Condemn Attacks
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the incidents as “terrorist acts” and deliberate provocations during Ramadan, accusing Israeli authorities of supporting and inciting such attacks. Officials urged the international community to protect Palestinian religious sites, including Islamic and Christian holy places, and hold Israel accountable.
The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments added that mosque arsons are part of a systematic plan to dominate Palestinian land and weaken local resilience, with a notable increase in attacks during Ramadan.
Restrictions on Al-Aqsa Mosque
Tightened Israeli measures in East Jerusalem have emptied Al-Aqsa Mosque of worshippers, according to the PLO’s Jerusalem Affairs Department. Access restrictions, imposed since the U.S.-Israeli–Iranian conflict began February 28, limit Palestinian movement in the Old City and impede access to sacred sites, raising concerns over freedom of worship guaranteed under international law.
Regional and International Responses
Eight Arab and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, condemned Israel’s actions, calling closures of Al-Aqsa Mosque illegal and unjustified. Officials reaffirmed the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs legal authority over the site, and urged international intervention to halt violations against holy sites in Jerusalem.
Palestinian officials emphasized that Israel continues to systematically violate international law by targeting mosques and other religious sites while avoiding accountability for these acts.
K.A
