ON the Israeli violations in al-Aqsa Mosque – statement from the Hamas movement.
The leadership of Hamas held an urgent meeting on the ongoing dangerous Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Indeed, the Israeli occupation took new measures in Al-Aqsa on the Day of Eid Al-Adha which are still ongoing.
All of these violations are perpetrated under an Israeli scheme that targets Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem.
The Hamas leadership has thoroughly discussed the new developments and contacted many officials and non-official bodies, governments, parties, and figures in the Arab and Islamic Ummah.
‘Hamas confirms to the whole world that Jerusalem is a red line and that any Israeli aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque is an attack against the Arab and Islamic Ummah, above all the steadfast Palestinian people.’
Furthermore, any Israeli violation against al-Aqsa is enough to trigger an uprising in Palestine. Upon this, the Hamas Movement states the following:
‘We hail our people in Jerusalem and the Palestinian defenders of al-Aqsa Mosque.
‘We call upon Arab and Islamic leaders and governments to fulfill their responsibilities towards al-Aqsa, which is the Muslims’ first Qibla and their third holiest shrine.
‘Now, al-Aqsa is facing an abhorrent Israeli violation and is being desecrated by Israeli settlers.
‘In addition, the Israeli occupation has a dangerous plan to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque and to establish the alleged temple on the ruins of the mosque.
‘In fact, Arab and Islamic leaders must take action to save the mosque. Otherwise, they will have a shame recorded in history that will keep chasing them.
‘We call on the leadership of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to play an active role in protecting Al-Aqsa and Jerusalem.
‘We call upon King Abdullah II to convert condemnation into actions that protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli aggression.
‘We call upon King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the president of Al-Quds committee, to provide protection for al-Aqsa Mosque. He should increase pressure at international forums to criminalise the Israeli occupation for its violations.
‘We call on senior officials in the Palestinian Authority to abandon announcements that they name as decisions and to take serious actions to protect Al-Aqsa.
‘The simplest thing they could do is removing the security grip and allowing the Palestinian people in the West Bank to resist the Israeli occupation.
‘The PA-affiliated security forces must stop chasing Palestinian freedom fighters. Indeed, this step is enough to stop Israel violations in Al-Aqsa.
‘We call on the Palestinian people residing in Palestine or in the diaspora, especially our people in 1948 occupied territories, to take a comprehensive action and to stay in al-Aqsa continually. The Israeli occupation must understand that playing in al-Aqsa is playing with fire that will be met with fire.
‘Hamas stresses that targeting al-Aqsa is part of the “Deal of Century”, which has dangerous outcomes on the Palestinian people.
‘This plot can only be tackled through national unity based on real and honest partnership.
‘Today, we call for holding a meeting for the secretaries-general of the Palestinian factions entitled, “Protection for Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque” to tackle the Israeli violations in the holy city.
‘Hamas leadership calls on the Palestinian masses residing in Palestine or in the diaspora to defend Al-Aqsa.
‘We stress the importance of participating in the huge gathering on August 23, 2019 at the Great Return March, which coincides with the anniversary of burning Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969.
‘On this occasion, we will confirm our historical rights to occupied Jerusalem. In addition, we will highlight the importance of protecting Islamic and Christian holy places.’
Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Riyad al-Malki, said last Thursday that the two-state solution could come to an end if Israel remained uncommitted to the international resolutions.
Addressing the United Kingdom’s Parliament in London, al-Malki stressed, ‘The current situation is approaching a critical point that may become a disaster if no intervention is made to rescue the two-state solution.’
He called for ‘sending clear messages to Israel that any solution that is not based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is destined to failure.’
Prior to the address to the UK Parliament, al-Malki held separate meetings with his then counterpart Jeremy Hunt and the leader of the UK opposition Jeremy Corbyn and discussed with them political developments and current situation in Palestine.
During his meeting with Hunt, al-Malki reiterated the rejection on behalf of the Palestinian leadership of the United States’ proposed Middle East peace deal, the so-called ‘Deal of the Century,’ which does not meet any of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
Al-Malki also handed Hunt a letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to be given to the UK Prime Minister.
- Informed sources have reported that Kurdish militants are holding talks with Damascus on delivering control of certain parts of Eastern Euphrates region to the Syrian army after the US agreement with Ankara to set up a safe zone in Syria.
The Arabic-language Bas News affiliated to the Kurds quoted the Kurdish sources as saying on Wednesday that a delegation of the Kurdish forces headed by Chairman of the Syrian Democratic Council Ilham Ahmad has recently met with senior officials in Damascus and Russia’s military base in Humeimim on the fate of Eastern Euphrates region.
He added that during the talks, Damascus has urged the Syrian Democratic Council to return the heavy weapons they had taken from the Syrian army, withdraw the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants from the centres of Qamishli and Hasaka cities, and deliver their control to the Syrian government.
The source also referred to the Damascus’ demand from the Kurdish forces to pave the ground for the Syrian army’s deployment in Hasaka province, and said an agreement will soon be made between the two sides to give control of Raqqa and al-Tabaqah to the Syrian government.
He added that at present, the problem is US opposition, noting that Washington intends to receive some advantages from Russia first.
Kurdish sources in Syria said on Wednesday that the US had initiated a rigid move in collaboration with Turkey to undermine the Kurdish militants and force them to leave parts of Northern Syria.
The sources were quoted by the Arabic-language website of Sputnik as saying that the Kurds had sent three separate delegations to Damascus, Moscow and Cairo to find a way out of the quagmire created by Washington for them.They added that the US has worked out a scheme to aggravate enmities between Turkey and the Kurds and launched a coup against them, moving in line with Turkey in common plans in Eastern Euphrates region.
The sources said that the US used the Syrian tribes that are supported by certain Persian Gulf Arab states as a replacement for the Kurds as they could better advance Washington’s goals without threatening Turkey’s interests.
They also revealed that the US is attempting to revive the ISIL in Eastern Euphrates to be used against the Syrian army.