The United States urged Israel to guarantee Muslim access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem for Ramadan, following a controversial proposal by an Israeli minister.
“We strongly urge Israel to facilitate access to the Temple Mount for peaceful worshippers during Ramadan, consistent with past practices,” stated State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, acknowledging both the Jewish and Muslim names for the holy site.
He emphasized that facilitating access is not just “the right thing to do” and respects religious freedom, but also “directly important to Israel’s security.” He warned against actions that could escalate tensions in the region.
Israel is currently navigating how to manage access to the site during Ramadan, which begins in March. This comes amidst ongoing tensions, including a recent Hamas attack and Israel’s military response in Gaza.
Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, has called for a “mass movement” at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan.
Meanwhile, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has sparked controversy by proposing to restrict access for Palestinians residing in the West Bank. He argued that allowing them to pray at Al-Aqsa would be a security risk.
The United States is pushing for a pre-Ramadan agreement involving an Israeli halt to attacks in Gaza and the release of hostages captured in the October 7th incident.
The Israeli-Gaza conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 29,000 fatalities reported in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. The attack followed by the Israeli response also led to over 1,100 deaths in Israel, mainly civilians.
