Occupation Forces, Settlers Harass Al-Aqsa Mosque Staff: Jordan
Speaking during a Monday meeting with the Palestinian Parliamentary Committee, Mohammad Khalaileh highlighted that these challenges include arrests, deportations, physical assaults, and harassment.
Khalaileh pointed out that the Israeli incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque and their activities within its premises continue, exacerbating the situation. Additionally, there has been a concerning increase in the number of Israeli extremists involved in these incidents, often engaging in previously unseen religious practices.
He further noted that these intrusive actions, sometimes conducted with the protection of Israeli police, undermine the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jordan News reported.
Meanwhile, Khalaileh shared that the Jerusalem Awqaf employs approximately 850 individuals, encompassing guards, workers, imams, and preachers, who play a vital role in safeguarding the holy sites and providing religious services.
Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf Islamic Affairs and Holy Places oversees the Jerusalem Waqf, which is the organization that runs the affairs of the mosque and its staff.
Jordan has been the custodian of the mosque since 1924, when the Hashemite dynasty was given control of the holy sites in Jerusalem by the British Mandate. Jordan's role was reaffirmed by the Israeli regime after it occupied East al-Quds in 1967, and by the Palestinian Authority in 2013.
Source: Agencies
