Cairo, September 27 (QNA) - The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States has condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, marked by intensified military measures, closures, and restrictions on the movement of Palestinians during the Jewish holidays. It also condemned the dangerous escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque and attempts to impose new realities there.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the General Secretariat highlighted revelations by the Jerusalem District Commander of the Israeli occupation police regarding a trial run to bring Jewish prayer books (Siddur) into Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with discussions about potentially allowing other religious items and books in the future. It described the development as highly dangerous, warning that it could entrench new practices and rituals at the mosque and undermine its established historical and legal status quo.

The Secretariat also condemned the tightening of military measures in the occupied West Bank, including the closure of roads, gates, and checkpoints and restrictions on Palestinians' movement and access to their workplaces and places of worship, particularly amid the continued closure of roads and entrances in several Palestinian governorates.

The statement warned against exploiting the Jewish holiday period to intensify incursions and violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, citing recent incidents involving incursions, religious rituals, and the introduction of religious items and prayer books into its courtyards, alongside restrictions on Palestinian worshippers' access.

It called on the international community, particularly the Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities and compel Israel, the occupying power, to halt measures and practices that violate the rights of the Palestinian people, freedom of worship, and the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem. (QNA)