Ankara: Palestine's Supreme Fatwa Council on Thursday condemned the escalating 'systematic attacks' by extremist Israeli occupiers targeting holy sites and places of worship after two mosques were burned in Nablus and Tulkarm. Racist slogans were also written on the walls of the two mosques, the council said in a statement.
According to Anadolu Agency, the council described the burning of mosques as a 'systematic crime' targeting houses of worship and Islamic holy sites. It further stated that such attacks are part of Israel's policy of abuse, repression, and violations against religious rituals across the Palestinian territories. The council emphasized that these attacks are part of dangerous and systematic occupation policies aimed at targeting the Palestinian presence and religious rights.
The council highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that Israeli crimes have reached a level of brutality, ugliness, and disregard for lives and property. It also accused the Israeli army and police of providing full protection to occupiers who provoke the feelings of all Muslims by spreading corruption on the land.
Furthermore, the council denounced Israel's continued and increasing incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, noting that Israeli authorities have imposed strict measures at the mosque's gates and around the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. While preventing worshippers from entering, Israeli authorities allegedly allow extremist occupiers to intensify incursions into Al-Aqsa's courtyards and perform Talmudic rituals inside the mosque.
The council warned that these violations are part of systematic plans to impose the temporal and spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a fait accompli. It described this as a dangerous assault on the historical and legal status quo at the mosque, reflecting the level of racism of the occupier against Palestinians and their holy sites.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli occupiers set fire to two mosques in separate attacks across the occupied West Bank, targeting one in the village of Kur, south of Tulkarem, and another under construction in the town of Qusra, south of Nablus, according to Palestinian officials. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli occupiers stormed the village of Kur and set fire to the mosque, causing partial damage to the building and its interior.
On Friday, Israeli occupiers, backed by the army, attacked the Palestinian town of Tell near Nablus, resulting in the death of four Palestinians. Two Israelis were also killed in a shooting during the confrontation, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and occupiers have killed at least 1,182 Palestinians in the West Bank, injured thousands, and detained around 24,000, according to official Palestinian figures.