For the 39th day.. The occupation continues to besiege Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre amid settler calls for animal sacrifices

The Israeli occupation authorities continue to impose their siege on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem, as the closure entered its thirty-ninth consecutive day. The occupation's security agencies cite the imposition of a state of emergency and current security conditions to justify preventing worshippers from accessing places of worship, in a move aimed at isolating the Old City from its surroundings.

The Jerusalem Governorate confirmed in an official statement that the occupation forces have reinforced their military presence around the Noble Sanctuary (Haram al-Sharif) and deployed additional checkpoints at the gates of the Old City. These strict measures aim to restrict Jerusalemite citizens and prevent them from performing their religious rituals, amidst a state of escalating tension in the historic city's alleys.

In a new provocative move, the extremist Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate under heavy security protection. This provocative visit is part of a series of incursions carried out by the right-wing minister, with local sources recording about 14 incursions by him since he took office early last year.

These field developments coincide with incitement calls launched by the so-called 'Temple groups,' coinciding with the Jewish 'Passover' holiday, which extends until April 9th. These groups called on their supporters to intensify mass incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, with threats of slaughtering 'sacrifices' within its courtyards in a blatant challenge to the feelings of Muslims.

For its part, sources reported that the occupation seeks to exploit the pretext of the closure to impose a new political and security reality aimed at the temporal and spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque. In response, popular and Jerusalemite calls have escalated for mobilization and steadfastness at the nearest available points and military checkpoints surrounding the Old City to break this unjust siege.

Palestinian religious and official authorities warned of the dire consequences of continuing to close Islamic and Christian holy sites, considering it a grave violation of international laws that guarantee freedom of worship. These parties indicated that the occupation is racing against time to implement Judaization plans and change the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city under the guise of security conditions.

National activities in Jerusalem called on the international community and human rights organizations to intervene immediately to stop these violations and provide the necessary protection for the holy sites. They stressed the need to pressure the occupation government to fully reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa and the Holy Sepulchre, holding it fully responsible for any escalation that may result from these repressive policies.

The continued closure of holy sites represents a blatant violation of freedom of worship and an escalation aimed at changing the historical and legal status in Jerusalem.