Israeli Occupation Plans to Storm al-Aqsa on Eid al-Adha

Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. (File photo: AFP)
Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. (File photo: AFP)
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Israeli Occupation Plans to Storm al-Aqsa on Eid al-Adha

Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. (File photo: AFP)
Dome of the Rock at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. (File photo: AFP)

Jewish extremist and settler groups plan to storm the al-Aqsa mosque compound under the protection of occupation forces on the first day of Eid al-Adha which also marks the anniversary of the so called “Tisha Bav,” warned President Mahmoud Abbas’ adviser for religious affairs Mahmoud al-Habbash.

He stressed that the whole world should work to prevent this crime before it is too late, noting that such move could trigger religious strife in the region and have dangerous consequences.

Habbash asserted that the Palestinian people will protect al-Aqsa Mosque and its sanctity.

He called on all the Palestinian people who are able to reach al-Aqsa to attend Eid prayers and support Jerusalemites in protecting and defending the Mosque, stressing that the Palestinian leadership, headed by Abbas, is following up the developments with concern.

“We will do everything possible, together with our people, to protect al-Aqsa Mosque,” he asserted.

Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein announced that Eid al-Adha prayers at the Mosque will be at 7:30 am instead of 6:30, after the threats of occupation forces and settlers to storm the compound.

In his Friday sermon at the Mosque, Hussein urged all Palestinians to come to the Mosque on the first day of Eid, stressing that al-Aqsa is for Muslims only and that it is not subject to negotiations or bargaining.

In a joint statement signed by the Islamic Supreme Council, Council of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, and Hussein, Palestinian officials announced that all mosques in Jerusalem will be closed and that Eid prayers will take place in al-Aqsa.

Fatah movement urged the people to participate in the prayers at al-Aqsa, emphasizing its important status.

Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians performed Friday prayers outdoors in a sit-in tent in Wadi al-Hummus, in occupied East Jerusalem, to protest Israel's demolition of several homes last month.

On July 22, Israel demolished 16 Palestinian-owned buildings in Sur Baher and displaced dozens of Palestinians in the process. The demolition sparked wide scale condemnation from Arab and other states.

Most of the demolished lands of Sur Baher are categorized within Area A under Palestinian sovereignty, according to the Oslo Agreement.



Italian MPs Protest at Egypt's Gaza Border Against War

 Italian and European parliament members hold placards during a protest in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling for an end to the war and for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
Italian and European parliament members hold placards during a protest in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling for an end to the war and for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Italian MPs Protest at Egypt's Gaza Border Against War

 Italian and European parliament members hold placards during a protest in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling for an end to the war and for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
Italian and European parliament members hold placards during a protest in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, calling for an end to the war and for aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip, on May 18, 2025. (AFP)

Italian parliamentarians protested on Sunday in front of Egypt's Rafah border crossing with Gaza, calling for aid access and an end to the war in the devastated Palestinian territory.

"Europe is not doing enough, nothing to stop the massacre," Cecilia Strada, an Italian member of the European parliament, told AFP.

The group, including 11 members of the Italian parliament, three MEPs and representatives of NGOs, held signs reading "Stop genocide now", "End illegal occupation" and "Stop arming Israel".

"There should be a complete embargo on weapons to and from Israel and a stop to trade with illegal settlements," Strada said.

The protesters laid toys on the ground in solidarity with Gaza's children, who the UN warns face "a growing risk of starvation, illness and death" more than two months into a total Israeli aid blockade.

At least 15,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, according to the United Nations.

Israel has faced mounting pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies warn of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines.

It resumed its offensive on March 18, ending a two-month truce in its war against Hamas triggered by the Palestinian group's October 2023 attack on Israel.

On Saturday Israel announced an expanded military campaign, killing dozens of people in new strikes.

"We hear the bombs right now," Walter Massa, president of Italian non-profit organization Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana, told AFP near the crossing.

"The Israeli army continues to do what it believes is right in the face of an international community that does not intervene, and in Gaza, beyond the Rafah crossing border, people continue to die," he said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday said he was "alarmed" at the escalation and called for "a permanent ceasefire, now".

Italy's government on Saturday reiterated its calls to Israel to stop attacking Gaza, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying: "Enough with the attacks."

"We no longer want to see the Palestinian people suffer," Tajani said.

Gaza's health ministry said Sunday 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed its strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,339.