Israel tightens Jerusalem and West Bank restrictions during Yom Kippur
Israeli authorities closed several major roads in occupied Jerusalem and most crossings linking the occupied West Bank to the city late Sunday as Yom Kippur began, disrupting Palestinian movement and prompting a heavy security deployment across the area.
Witnesses said Israeli forces were deployed in large numbers across Jerusalem, while several Palestinian residents of the city were reportedly stranded in the West Bank and unable to return home.
Israel routinely imposes movement restrictions and road closures during Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, which began Sunday evening and ends Monday evening. The holiday is marked by fasting, prayer and the suspension of many daily activities.
Al-Aqsa tensions fuel regional condemnation
The restrictions came amid heightened tensions around Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli forces have increased security measures and facilitated visits by Israeli officials and Jewish groups under police protection.
Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and a group of Jews accompanied by Israeli police.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the visit as a violation of the existing historical and legal status quo at the site and warned against attempts to impose new realities or introduce a temporal or spatial division of the compound.
Amman reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa compound, covering 144 dunams, is a Muslim place of worship and that the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, is responsible for its administration.
Arab states warn against changes to holy site
Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia also condemned the visit, describing it as provocative and contrary to international law. The three countries called for international action to prevent further violations at Jerusalem’s holy sites.
Palestinian and Jordanian authorities have repeatedly warned against changes to the established status quo at Al-Aqsa, particularly during Jewish holidays.
According to Palestinian reports, 992 Israelis entered the compound ahead of Yom Kippur.
Hamas condemns Netanyahu visit
Hamas also condemned what it described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s entry into areas beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque and around the Al-Buraq Wall.
The group said the visits and associated statements represented an assault on the Islamic identity of the site and reiterated its position that Al-Aqsa, including its courtyards, prayer halls, walls and gates, is an Islamic holy site.
West Bank shrine placed under Israeli antiquities authority
The developments in Jerusalem coincided with Israeli military activity elsewhere in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces raided several areas of Tulkarm on Sunday and posted notices placing the Bint Yaqub shrine under the authority of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
The two-story shrine includes a lower section dating to the Roman period and an upper section from the Mamluk era. The site contains domes, a prayer room, a passage leading to the lower level and two stone-built pools, while nearby structures are also associated with Roman-era remains and traditional pottery production.
The Palestinian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, together with Tulkarm Municipality, restored and rehabilitated the site between 2002 and 2004.
Palestinian authorities denounce designation
The Palestinian Endowments Ministry condemned the Israeli designation, saying the shrine stands on Islamic waqf land and accusing Israeli authorities of seeking greater control over religious endowment properties.
The ministry called for international and human rights organizations to intervene to protect religious properties and prevent their seizure.
Israeli forces also raided Izbat Abu Yasin in Iktaba, Al-Hafasi and other locations in the Tulkarm area, where notices were reportedly posted concerning large areas of land on the grounds that they contain archaeological sites.
Israel expands control over West Bank archaeology
The measures come amid broader Israeli efforts to expand authority over archaeological sites in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Israeli organization Emek Shaveh, the Israeli government expanded the powers of the Civil Administration’s archaeology officer in February to cover archaeological sites in areas partly administered by the Palestinian Authority.
In May, the Israeli Knesset approved in a first reading a bill proposing a civilian Heritage Authority under the Israeli Heritage Ministry to oversee archaeological and heritage sites in the occupied West Bank.
Further progress on the legislation later stalled, according to Emek Shaveh.
Holiday season adds to tensions
The latest restrictions and disputes over holy and archaeological sites come as the Jewish holiday season continues.
It began with Rosh Hashanah on Sept. 12-13 and will continue with Sukkot from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, followed by Simchat Torah on Oct. 3.
Source:AA
