Call from Hamas
Hamas said in a written statement, “We call on our people, our Ummah and all free people around the world to mobilize on the path of victory and solidarity to protect Gaza, Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, August 24.” In addition to the arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque, this call also draws attention to “the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation and extreme Zionist aggressors.”
The statement emphasized that such attacks “increase Palestinians’ attachment to their land, people and sacred things.” It was stated that the Israeli occupation and its crimes have been continuing for 76 years, since 1948, and that “the Israeli occupation and the violations committed by its murderous army will never extinguish the fire of resistance in the souls of our people.”
Al-Aqsa Mosque was set on fire by arsonist Denis Michael Rohan, an Australian fanatic, on August 21, 1969. The fire, which started in the eastern part of the “Qibla Mosque” in the southern part of Al-Aqsa, unfortunately completely destroyed many valuable artifacts, including the historical artifact known as the “Minbar of Saladin al-Ayyubi.”
