Washington asks Israel to guarantee access to Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan

The American government on Wednesday called on Israeli authorities to guarantee access for worshipers to the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem during Ramadan.

The Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, head of a far-right group, recently spoke out in favor of limiting access to the holy site, raising fears of an aggravation of tensions already at their peak due to military operations in the Gaza Strip.

“Regarding Al-Aqsa, we continue to call on Israel to facilitate access to the Temple Mount for peaceful worshipers during Ramadan, consistent with past practices”State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

“It’s not only the right thing to do, it’s not only the issue of giving people the religious freedom that they deserve and are entitled to, but it’s also a very important issue for the security of Israel. It is not in Israel’s interest to inflame tensions in the West Bank or the wider region.”he added.

Ismaïl Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, called on Wednesday in a televised address “our fellow citizens of Jerusalem, the West Bank and the occupied interior to go to Al-Aqsa from the first day of the blessed month of Ramadan, in groups or alone, to pray there in order to break the siege imposed on it”. The Muslim holy month is scheduled to begin on March 10 or 11.

The Esplanade des Mosques, which the Jews call the Temple Mount, is the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest place in Judaism. It is administered by Jordan, but the Israeli authorities impose restrictions, particularly in terms of attendance or age of the faithful admitted.

Gazans threatened by famine

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 29,954 Palestinians have been killed, the majority civilians, according to the latest report provided Wednesday by the Hamas health ministry.

In the enclave besieged since October 9 by the Israeli army, 2.2 million people, the vast majority of the population, are threatened with famine, according to the UN, particularly in the North where the destruction, the fighting and looting make it almost impossible to deliver aid subject to Israel’s agreement. No convoy has been able to go to northern Gaza since January 23, according to the UN, which also denounces the obstacles imposed by Israel.

“If nothing changes, famine is imminent in northern Gaza”warned Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program (WFP). “If nothing is done, we fear that widespread famine in Gaza is almost inevitable”added Ramesh Rajasingham, his coordination counterpart at the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The international community is particularly concerned about the ground offensive promised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rafah, where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians are massed, according to the UN. Qatar, the United States and Egypt are trying to negotiate a six-week truce, during which one hostage would be exchanged every day for ten Palestinians held by Israel, according to a source close to Hamas.