Hundreds Of Israelis Enter Al Aqsa Mosque Perform A Jewish Ritual

Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem Old Town. (Unsplash-Philippe Collard)

JAKARTA - Hundreds of Israelis broke into the Al Aqsa Mosque area on Wednesday 12 June. They held a Jewish prayer celebrating Shavuot's holiday.

Citing the Wafa news agency from local sources, the entry of these Jewish civilians was supported by the Israeli military by closing the road near the Damascus Gate, the main entrance to Jerusalem's Old City where the Al Aqsa Mosque was located.

At the same time, a number of Muslims who were about to go to Al Aqsa Mosque were stopped by the Israeli military.

Non-Muslim rituals have long been banned at the Al-Aqsa Mosque under long-dekened agreements.

Previously, the Israeli military carried out an operation to release four hostages at the heart of the housing area of the Nuseirat region, central Gaza on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

The operation freed four Israeli hostages but more than 270 Gazans, Palestinians killed.

The United Nations human rights office said the killing of Gazans in the operation to release four Israeli hostages could potentially be declared war crimes.

The operation accompanied by airstrikes was carried out in a densely populated area at the heart of the housing area of the Nuseirat region, central Gaza.

"The way attacks are carried out in densely populated areas raises a serious question as to whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions as regulated in the laws of war' are respected by Israeli forces," said a spokesman for the United Nations human rights office, Jeremy totaled, quoted by Reuters, Wednesday, June 12.

This added that the hostage-taking carried out by Palestinian armed groups in densely populated areas risked the lives of Gazans and "an additional risk of hostilities".

"All actions taken by both parties may be war crimes," he said.

In response to the statement, Israel's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva accused the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights of "fitting Israel".

The conflict in Gaza was triggered when Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7. Israel's countermeasures by carrying out airstrikes put missiles in residential areas and hospitals that left more than 37,000 Palestinians dead.