According to Aljazeera News, a tense confrontation occurred in the occupied East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina on Tuesday after an Israeli soldier forcibly entered the al-Hijrah Mosque and demanded to see identification documents from Palestinian worshippers inside.
The incident, which locals described as a severe provocation and a violation of the sanctity of the holy site, took place during evening prayers.
Witnesses reported that the soldier, in full military gear, entered the mosque compound without permission.
According to multiple accounts from those present, the soldier’s stated purpose for the intrusion was to check the IDs of the men at prayer.
The exact legal justification for the soldier’s actions inside a place of worship remains unclear and was immediately challenged by community leaders.
“The soldier told us he was here to check our papers, right here in the mosque, said one worshipper, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. “He said, “I am checking the IDs of those praying.
“It was shocking and humiliating, a mosque is a place for peace, not for military raids.
The al-Hijrah Mosque, like all places of worship, is afforded protections under international law, which generally prohibits military operations within religious sites unless they are being used for hostile purposes.
There were no reports from Israeli authorities suggesting the mosque was being used for anything other than peaceful prayer.
Palestinian authorities have condemned the soldier’s entry as a blatant and illegal act of aggression, further escalating tensions in the already volatile city.
They accuse the Israeli military of systematically eroding the rights and sanctity of Palestinian religious spaces in occupied territory.
As of press time, the Israeli military has not released an official statement regarding the incident in Beit Hanina.
The event has heightened fears among Palestinian residents of increased military intrusions and surveillance, even within their most sacred spaces.
Community leaders are calling for an immediate investigation and guarantees that such violations will not be repeated. See, More, Here>>>>
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