Here's how Christian Palestinians are standing in solidarity with Muslims at Al-Aqsa
posted on: Jul 27, 2017
By: Rayana Khalaf
Source: Stepfeed
Palestinian Muslims are fighting for their right to peacefully access Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam in which Muslims legally have exclusive prayer rights.
But, they are not fighting alone.
Christians are standing in solidarity with Muslims and partaking in the protests, proving that Israeli oppression affects all.
In viral footage that warmed the hearts of social media users, a man with a rosary draped around his neck is seen reading the Bible and making the sign of the cross, while standing alongside men conducting Muslim prayers outside the Old City of Jerusalem.
The man has been identified by CNN as Palestinian Nidal Aboud, who said that he had asked his Muslim friends for permission to pray among them.
Aboud explained the move by saying, “My motivation was to stand in solidarity with my Muslim brothers and in solidarity with our Palestinian issue against the (Israeli) occupation and its policies against our holy sites, whether it’s the mosque or the church.”
He went on to say that he would personally refuse to walk through a metal detector if one were placed outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City, the biblical site of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
According to local media, some churches in Bethlehem, the Palestinian town south of Jerusalem, closed on Sunday and urged their followers to join protesters in Al-Aqsa.
On Thursday, a delegation of the World Council of Churches joined Palestinian worshippers protesting near Al-Aqsa and stood in solidarity with the Muslim community, Alsharq Alawsat reported.
On July 19, the heads of churches in Jerusalem released a statement expressing “serious concern regarding recent escalation in violent developments around Haram ash-Sharif (The label Muslim use to refer to the Temple Mount)”.
The heads of churches “strongly condemn any act of violence,” maintaining a firm stance against any change in the historical status quo at Al-Aqsa, demanding that the Palestinian-Israeli agreement be respected.
“We value the continued custody of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places in Jerusalem and the Holy Land which guarantees the right for all Muslims to free access and worship to al-Aqsa Mosque according to the prevailing Status Quo,” the statement read.
As per a Palestinian-Israeli agreement, Muslims have exclusive prayer rights in Al-Aqsa, as Jews are allowed to enter the compound under certain circumstances but not to pray there.
Jerusalem’s Greek Orthodox Archbishop Atallah Hanna also joined the protests and expressed his support for Muslims.
“It is our duty as Palestinian Christians and Muslims to remain united against Israel’s greed, which targets all of us,” he told Anadolu Agency. “As everyone knows the Palestinian people are united against the occupation and racism.”
Over the past ten days, Palestinian Muslims have been protesting against Israel’s additional security measure in Al-Aqsa.
Israel installed metal detectors and extra security cameras, deployed about 3,000 officers nearby and banned Muslim men under the age of 50 from entering the compound. This came in response to the three Palestinians who opened fire against Israeli security forces near Al-Aqsa compound on July 14, killing two Israeli officers, before being shot dead by Israeli police.
The added security measures have angered Palestinians, who see them as an attempt to expand Israeli control over the site.
In an act of defiance against Israel’s imposed control over the holy site, hundreds of Palestinians have carried out their prayers in the streets outside the mosque, refusing to walk through the metal detectors.
The protests have resulted in violent clashes with Israeli forces, leaving three Palestinians killed and over thirty injured.
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