19 July 2017
Hashtag backs King's action on the issue

JEDDAH — Israel’s closure of the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem has outraged Saudis, many of them expressing their grief over the tragic incident. A new hashtag has been launched supporting the action initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in this regard.

According to reports, the Israeli authorities have allowed some doors of the mosque to reopen, the premises remains under the Israeli control with new security measures installed at three entrances. Palestinians have refused to enter the site with the new security measures and are continuing their protest.

Shaza Faisal, a Saudi female working in the private sector, said, “Everyone has full rights to practice his/her beliefs and what is happening at Al-Aqsa Mosque is an attempt to force a religious nation to breach its faith. Palestinian Muslims, like any other religious group, should be allowed to practice their religion freely and denying them access to their own place of worship is absolutely nonsensical. This act is illogical and indefensible. Everything has already been taken from the Palestinians, taking their religious sanctuary is quite simply barbaric.”

Hanan Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi also working in the private sector, expressed her sadness and said occupation of Palestine by Israel for decades has deprived the Palestinians of their rights as citizens and humans.

“In 1969, the world witnessed Al-Aqsa Mosque being set on fire by Denis Rohan. What occurred demonstrates the lack of ethical integrity that others have for the holy land of many; from that point onwards many wrong doings that occurred on Palestinian territories have caused great uncertainty for the holy land.”

She added, “Today, however we witness a sovereign state banning Palestinians from praying in Al-Aqsa. For decades, Israel has broken international laws for their unlawful actions toward Palestinians. Many may argue that what Israel is doing today was unlawful. However, the Arab World has yet to stand together and forge unity.

“The most effective stand that the Arab World took against Israel was in the 1970s with the oil embargo placed by King Faisal.

“There are no words for Israel to justify itself with the mosque ban.”

The Saudi Council of Ministers on Monday voiced deep concern over the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility to halt such practices that deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the globe.

The weekly session of the Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, described the Israeli act as a dangerous development that would further complicate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Tweeters have a new hashtag supporting the action of King Salman.

One of them thanked King Salman through the hashtag and prayed for His blessings on the King. Another Saudi user said that the citizens were proud of the King’s actions.

© The Saudi Gazette 2017