After Performing the "Epic Prostration"... Jordan Condemns Israeli Knesset Members' Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Jordan News

17-04-2025

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif by members of the Israeli Knesset. This coincided with provocative acts carried out by extremists during such incursions, which occur under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. The ministry described the incident as an unacceptable and dangerous escalation, a blatant provocation, and a violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the historical and legal status quo. اضافة اعلان The official spokesperson of the ministry, Ambassador Dr. Sufyan Qudah, reaffirmed Jordan's absolute rejection and strong condemnation of repeated incursions by Israeli Knesset members and large numbers of extremists into Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif. He emphasized that such actions fuel tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories, violate Israel's obligations as the occupying power in Jerusalem, and represent an attempt to impose temporal and spatial division of the holy site. He stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. Ambassador Qudah called on the international community to take a firm stance to compel Israel, as the occupying power, to cease its continuous and illegal violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its repeated desecration of sacred places. He also reiterated that Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its entirety—covering 144 dunams—is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the sole legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulate access to it. Earlier on Thursday, a far-right member of the Israeli Knesset stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied by thousands of settlers and performed what is referred to as the 'epic prostration'—a full-body gesture toward the Dome of the Rock. His actions were later welcomed by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The Palestinian Governorate of Jerusalem said in a statement that thousands of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and Bab al-Rahma Cemetery on the fifth day of the Jewish Passover holiday, which began on Sunday and lasts for a week. The statement noted that the extremist Knesset member from the Religious Zionism party, Tzvi Sukkot, performed the 'epic prostration'—a full-body laying down gesture—toward the Dome of the Rock within Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It added that thousands of settlers also entered the Western Wall Plaza (Al-Buraq Wall), located west of Al-Aqsa, to perform the so-called Priestly Blessing ritual on the fifth day of Passover.