On February 28, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for Palestinians to march to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan.
The chief of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, warned that the current Israeli war with Hamas could become a religious conflict if further restrictions are imposed on Muslims coming to worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to the Times of Israel.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a major holy site in Islam. It has been a major point of contention between Israeli security forces and Muslim worshippers, with multiple major clashes occurring in the last 4 years. Israel has imposed restrictions on worship at the site and has raided the Mosque multiple times to arrest agitators from clashes.
This comes as Hamas and Israel are negotiating a possible ceasefire. However, Hamas and Israel have played down the prospects of a truce, and Qatari mediators have said that the most contentious issues are still unresolved, according to Reuters.
This is developing.
