The Israeli occupation continues to exclude Jerusalemites from al-Aqsa mosque, as part of its Judaization of the city’s holy places, and as punishment for Palestinian’s resistance to the continuous incursions by militant settler groups into the mosque and its vicinity, as supported by occupation forces.
The Israeli authorities have now released the two Jerusalemite sisters, Hira and Maher al-Sous, on the condition of their exclusion from al-Aqsa mosque for one week.
On Friday 1 December, occupation forces carried out a number of separate arrests in the vicinity of al-Aqsa, including of the al-Sous’. All of the detainees were taken to al-Qishla police station for questioning.
In November alone, occupation authorities issued six exclusion orders involving Al-Aqsa mosque.
Not only are Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank excluded from al-Aqsa. Even the access of ‘48 Palestinians to the grand mosque is highly restricted. Rules include the blocking of males under 50-years-old from praying there.
The exclusion of Jerusalemites from al-Aqsa mosque is a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian laws that protect civilian populations under occupation.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits the forcible transfer of persons in occupied territories from deportation, including to the occupying power’s territory, for any reason whatsoever.
