Tag: Jerusalem

  • Palestinian Muslims mark sad and tense ‘holiest Ramadan night’ in Jerusalem

    Palestinian Muslims marked a tense and sombre last Friday of Ramadan in Jerusalem as Israeli police controlling the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque – the third holiest site in Islam – attacked worshippers.

    Some 120,000 people descended on the shrine, which dominates the Old City, officials said, with grand mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein urging the faithful to brave the heavy police presence because of the war in Gaza.

    Adli al-Agha, 53, from Jerusalem, told AFP that many people “had to flee dawn prayers” after Israeli police deployed a mini-drone spraying tear gas to disperse people chanting “Glory to God”.

    “In our soul and our blood, we sacrifice for you Al-Aqsa,” worshippers declared, according to Agha.

    Police said they arrested eight people for inciting terrorism.

    Yasser Basha, from Tulkarem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said police were restricting entrance to the mosque to the old and the very young. Only men over 55 and women over 50 were being allowed inside, he said.

    “If it wasn’t for the war, things would have been much easier,” he added.

    Friday also marks Laylat al-Qadr (“The Night of Destiny”), the spiritual climax of the Muslim holy month, which commemorates the moment the archangel Gabriel first appeared to Prophet Mohammed and began revealing the Koran.

    It is the night when Muslims believe their prayers are most likely to be granted, a festive moment while children stay up late and shops stay open till the small hours.

    But many Palestinians are not in the mood to celebrate and are praying for an end to the war in Gaza after almost six months of bloodshed.

    Sameeha Al Qadi, 55, who had come from near Bethlehem, said Jerusalem “is sad and has lost its light — we all feel what is going on in Gaza. We can’t escape it for a minute.”

    This year there are few Ramadan decorations or lights in the Holy City, with Palestinians instead having a bitter coffee and a date — traditionally to mark mourning — on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when feasts are usually held.

    “There is sweet nothing about the feast this year. People are not celebrating,” said Sabah, 54, some of whose relatives have been killed in Gaza.

    “Everything is bitter in my mouth. It is so painful at this time which is all about family.”

    Easter was similarly subdued last weekend for Palestinian Christians.

    Adnan Jafar, 60, a sweet maker in the Old City, said usually in Ramadan his shop is at its busiest.

    “But I have never had a Ramadan like this. And we all know why. (Gaza) is not just affecting us, it is affecting the whole world.”

    Israeli genocide in Gaza has killed at least 33,091 people since October 7, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.

  • Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, removes Christmas decor ‘in solidarity’ with Gaza

    Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, removes Christmas decor ‘in solidarity’ with Gaza

    The Christian leadership in Bethlehem have announced they will not have Christmas celebrations in the West Bank this year in light of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza which has resulted in killing more than 13,000 people.

    In a letter, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have unanimously agreed to cancel the commemoration of Christmas to conform to the spiritual significance of the holiday while Palestinians are being brutally killed by Israeli forces.

    “Each year during the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmastide, our Christian communities throughout the Holy Land take great delight in their preparations for the commemoration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” the patriarchs wrote in a joint letter.

    “In addition to attendance in religious services, these celebrations have normally involved participation in numerous public festivities and the large-scale display of brightly lit and expensive decorations as a means of expressing our joy at the approach and arrival of the Feast of the Nativity.”, it further stated.

    “But these are not normal times. Since the start of the War, there has been an atmosphere of sadness and pain. Thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, have died or suffered serious injuries,” the bishops continued. “Many more grieve over the loss of their homes, their loved ones, or the uncertain fate of those dear to them. Throughout the region, even more have lost their work and are suffering from serious economic challenges. Yet despite our repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence, the war continues.”

    City officials in Bethlehem have also been taking down Christmas decorations in solidarity with Palestinians.

    “Bethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city’s neighbourhoods and removing all festive appearances in mourning for the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in Gaza,” the city posted on Facebook on November 14.

    Why Bethlehem is significant for Christians?

    Bethlehem is located 10 kilometres south of the city of Jerusalem. Since at least the 2nd century AD, people have believed that Jesus was born where now stands the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

  • Around 100 Palestinians injured as Israeli forces raid Al-Aqsa mosque

    Around 100 Palestinians injured as Israeli forces raid Al-Aqsa mosque

    Nearly 100 Palestinians suffered injuries when the Israeli security forces raided the Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

    Al Jazeera reported that the Islamic endowment that runs the site said Israeli Police entered in force before dawn on Friday, as thousands of worshippers were gathered at the mosque for early morning prayers.

    “90 injured were transferred to Jerusalem hospitals and dozens of other injuries were treated in the field,” a Palestinian Red Crescent official told a French news agency, adding that they were due to rubber bullets, sound grenades, or assault.

    The Israeli raid is likely to incite violence as a large number of worshipers are expected today for Friday prayers with “videos circulating online showed Palestinians throwing rocks and police firing tear gas and stun grenades”.

  • Mark Ruffalo apologises for suggesting Israel committed ‘genocide’ in Palestine

    Mark Ruffalo apologises for suggesting Israel committed ‘genocide’ in Palestine

    American actor Mark Ruffalo, popularly known as The Hulk, has apologised for his statement which suggested that Israel is committing “genocide” in Palestine.

    “I have reflected and wanted to apologise for posts during the recent Israel/Hamas fighting that suggested Israel is committing ‘genocide’,” the actor wrote on Twitter. “It’s not accurate, it’s inflammatory, disrespectful and is being used to justify anti-Semitism here and abroad.”

    “Now is the time to avoid hyperbole,” added Ruffalo.

    The actor’s apology comes following weeks of violence on Palestinians during which Pakistani celebrities, as well as international celebrities, took to social media and came out on roads to condemn Israeli atrocities in Palestine.

    However, Mark hasn’t deleted his earlier tweets supporting Palestinians and they are still up on his account.

    Earlier in October 2020, Ruffalo had referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the division between the two as a “kind of apartheid” while speaking to television host Mehdi Hasan on the self-titled NBC program.

    He also accused the Israeli government of carrying out “asymmetrical warfare” against the Palestinian people, and tied in United States’ support for Israel as plainly aiding and abetting the separation and the “violence acted upon them.”

    Meanwhile, Usman Mukhtar expressed his shock over Mark’s change in stance, questioning, “What is happening?”

    Ushna Shah said: “And then there were none.”

    Ahmed Ali Butt also expressed his disappointment, saying: “Mark Ruffalo se Mark Badloo.”

    Earlier, American supermodel Gigi Hadid had called out anti-Semitic supporters of Palestine, calling them “hypocrites” for spreading hate towards the Jews.

  • ‘I feel sorry for you’ – Maya Ali schools Kangana Ranaut for supporting Israel

    ‘I feel sorry for you’ – Maya Ali schools Kangana Ranaut for supporting Israel

    Maya Ali called out Kangana Ranaut for supporting Israeli forces’ brutality in Palestine.

    Replying to Ranaut, The Teefa In Trouble star said: “I feel sorry for you. Get well soon Kangana Ranaut. One should have some humanity.”

    Taking to Instagram stories, Bollywood’s Kangana expressed her views on the ongoing Israeli attacks, saying that “in the fight against radical terrorism India stands with Israel.”

    She posted a series of pictures where she had written several statements supporting Israel’s stand in the entire incident.

    RELATED: Pakistan to observe Palestine Day on May 14

    She also wrote,”To save your nation and its people from radical Islamic terrorism is the fundamental right of every nation. India stands with Israel.”

    Social media platform Twitter suspended Ranuat’s account on the platform on Tuesday, after a series of controversial tweets.

    RELATED: ‘I am PM of Pakistan and we stand with Palestine’ – PM Khan on Twitter

    The Israeli army bombed police headquarters and security buildings in Gaza. Authorities say 56 Palestinians were killed, including 14 children, since the escalation began.

    Tensions have been building up since the start of Ramzan in mid-April when Israeli police set up barricades at the Damascus Gate outside the occupied Old City, preventing Palestinians from gathering there.

    On Monday, Israeli armed forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, ahead of a march by Zionist nationalists commemorating Israel’s capture of the eastern half of the city in 1967.

  • Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi, Farhan Saeed call out Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians

    Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi, Farhan Saeed call out Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians

    Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi and Farhan Saeed have raised their voice against Israel and their atrocities against the people of Palestine. They spoke up after reports came in that more than 200 Palestinians were wounded late on Friday outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli police fired rubber-coated metal bullets and stun grenades at innocent Palestinians.

    “I am sickened and disgusted,” wrote Asim on Twitter. “How can you attack a place of worship and attack defenceless worshippers?”

    “And yet again, the world will stay silent on Israel’s continuous oppression on Palestine. Ya Allah reham,” he added.

    Former Pakistan Cricket team captain Shahid Afridi also condemned the atrocities and said that the walls of Al-Aqsa Mosque are on the floor, with Palestinian blood, and my eyes are red with tears of helplessness.

    “The global conscience is sleeping wrapped in a blanket of indifference. Perhaps the blood of Muslims is so disrespectful that no voice will be raised and no campaign will be launched, he added.

    “First Qibla [Al-Aqsa Mosque], we are unable to pay off the debt of your sanctity.

    Similarly, Saeed wrote,”The world’s deafening silence is criminal! How can the international community sit back and watch this happen?”

    “This is terrorism,” remarked the singer.

    Tens of thousands of worshippers had earlier packed Islam’s third-holiest site on the final Friday of Ramzan and many stayed on to protest against Israeli plans to evict Palestinian families from their homes on land claimed by Jewish settlers in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.

    Meanwhile, Palestinians have also staged a series of sit-ins in the area in recent days denouncing Israeli orders for them to vacate their homes. Israeli security forces have attacked the sit-ins using skunk water, tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and shock grenades. Dozens of Palestinians have been arrested.

    Violence erupted on Friday when Israeli police deployed heavily as Muslims were performing evening prayers at Al-Aqsa during the holy month of Ramzan.

    https://twitter.com/Arslan_Sadiq/status/1390923500597153792?s=08

    Sheikh Jarrah’s residents are overwhelmingly Palestinian, but the neighbourhood also contains a site revered by religious Jews. The site is known to be the tomb of an ancient high priest, Simeon the Just.

    As per details, the Sheikh Jarrah cause has escalated over the past week but it is not a new issue.

    Jewish settler organisations filed a lawsuit in the 1970s claiming the area belonged to Jews originally, and seeking the expulsion of Palestinian families living there since 1956.

    These families, refugees from the 1948 Nakba, eventually settled in Sheikh Jarrah under an agreement between Jordan and the UN refugee agency.

    The Israeli district court ruled that four families – al-Kurd, Iskafi, Qassim and Jaouni – must leave their homes for settlers to take over, or reach an agreement with these settler organisations by paying rent and recognising them as landlords.

    The families refused and the court postponed the final verdict to Monday.