Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, manager of the Aqsa Mosque, has denounced the zionist occupation authority (ZOA) for conducting land surveying at the Aqsa Mosque, warning that such step portends malicious intents against the Islamic holy site.

In press remarks, Sheikh Kiswani said that the ZOA claimed its surveying of the Aqsa Mosque was for tourist purposes while Jewish settlers said it was intended for the construction of their alleged temple.

“Everyone who visits the Aqsa Mosque and al-Buraq Square comes to know that the zionist occupation is moving forward to Judaize them, but the Mosque will remain an Arab and Islamic holy site and the people of Jerusalem will keep defending it with all possible means,” he said.

Last Wednesday, israeli surveyors escorted by police forces took measurements of the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards and plateaus using land surveying equipment.

Such development took place after the ZOA recently imposed a lockdown on the holy city at the pretext of preventing the spread of coronavirus.

While preventing Muslim worshipers from entering the Aqsa Mosque, the zionist police have been facilitating the entry of Jewish settlers to the holy site since the first day of the lockdown.

The ZOA also embarked recently on carrying out excavations in al-Buraq Square and near al-Maghariba Gate of the Aqsa Mosque.

The Islamic Awqaf Administration in Jerusalem believes that the ZOA and its police in Jerusalem have been using the alleged lockdown to impose new faits accomplis on the ground at the Aqsa Mosque. (ILKHA)