Hamas urged Palestinians to actively oppose Israeli-imposed limitations on access to the al-Aqsa Mosque during the Ramadan

In a Telegram statement released on Saturday, high-ranking Hamas official Abdul Rahman Shadid appealed to Palestinians, encouraging them to gather at the courtyard of the revered site during the Muslim holy month of fasting.

He underscored the necessity for Palestinians to resist the limitations imposed by occupying forces, urging a steadfast defense against such measures. He called for a resolute commitment to their historical and religious claims to the revered mosque.

Shadid has issued a call for large gatherings to safeguard the al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the entirety of Ramadan.

Hamas has issued a stern condemnation of Israeli police actions, criticizing the measures that reportedly restricted access to al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The group claimed that only 10,000 worshippers were permitted to attend Friday prayers.

The Gaza-based organization characterized these actions as “an escalation in aggression against the Palestinian population and their sacred sites. They warned that this represents a perilous precedent, threatening the freedom of worship at the al-Aqsa Mosque, violating international conventions and religious laws, and directly provoking Muslim sentiments.”

The movement characterized the action as “a desperate effort to assert supposed control over the mosque.”

Hamas has declared that the actions and strategies of what it refers to as the “Zionist entity” targeting the al-Aqsa Mosque—a site revered as Islam’s third holiest and a significant emblem of Palestinian heritage—will fail in their attempts to erase its identity or change its historical significance.

The group emphasized that Al-Aqsa is to remain solely an Islamic endowment, strictly excluding any presence by occupying forces. They declared that their community and the broader nation are committed to safeguarding the site with great resolve until full liberation from occupation is achieved.

Hamas has issued a warning to the Israeli government regarding its actions, cautioning against the continuation of current measures. The organization has stated that it holds Israel entirely responsible for any potential escalation of tensions that may occur.

The movement has urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the international community to undertake decisive measures to halt the alleged transgressions and offenses committed by the occupying forces against the al-Aqsa Mosque. Furthermore, the movement calls for the assurance that Palestinians have unfettered access to perform their religious practices at the site.

Hamas has called on Palestinians throughout the West Bank, Jerusalem, and other occupied areas to bolster their presence at the al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The group is urging individuals to partake in worship and seclusion at the site while resisting efforts by Israeli forces and extremist groups to desecrate or assert control over the mosque.