#HandsOffAlAqsa

Israel get your #HandsOffAlAqsa

Every day under illegal Israeli occupation, the threat to Al-Aqsa increases. Call on your MP to publicly condemn the ongoing incursions and attacks on this holy site and to demand sanctions on Israel.

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Write to your MP to condemn attacks on Al-Aqsa

Demand your MP publicly condemns the ongoing incursions and attacks at Al-Aqsa and calls for sanctions on Israel.

 


 

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As you may already know, Al-Aqsa mosque is a sacred sanctuary in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the holiest site in Jerusalem for Muslims and an important symbol of Palestinian culture.

The Al-Aqsa sanctuary is in East Jerusalem, which has been illegally occupied by Israel since 1967 according to international law. This means that Israel controls Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa.

Some Israeli groups want to build a Jewish temple on this site. The Israeli government frequently allows these groups to provocatively visit Al-Aqsa, accompanied by Israeli Occupation Forces. These visits are known as incursions.

Over the last few years, the number of incursions at Al-Aqsa and attacks on Palestinian worshippers have rapidly increased. In April 2022, during the holy month of Ramadan, Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa were attacked 7 times in the space of 10 days. Israeli Occupation Forces used steel-coated rubber bullets and tear gas to injure over 250 worshippers, including women, children and the elderly. Palestinians were locked inside buildings while over 700 Israelis roamed freely and protected around the holy site.

As my MP will you publicly condemn these incursions and attacks on Al-Aqsa and call for sanctions on Israel? The world would be in uproar if this was happening at the holy site of other faith groups.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

 

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MP profile photo: © Parliament (CC-BY-3.0)

Order Forty Ahadith of Masjid Al-Aqsa

Order ‘Forty Ahadith of Masjid Al-Aqsa’ for your local mosque. This booklet intends to rekindle your love, affection and devotion to Masjid al-aqsa with forty ahadith about the Holy site.

You can distribute or leave it in the mosque for other worshippers at your mosque.

Stay in touch by:

This is a great way to keep up to date on all our activities and news on Palestine

FOA

Visit Al-Aqsa

Visit Masjid Al-Aqsa to grow your love for the holy site and to make sure it is never empty.

Khutba for Masjid Al-Aqsa

In light of the ongoing violence in Masjid Al-Aqsa, please dedicate a Khutba about Masjid Al Aqsa so that your congregation can be reminded of the struggle in Palestine.

Please see template:

Masjid-Al-Aqsa-Khutba

Resources on Al-Aqsa

Learn more about what Masjid Al-Aqsa is, it’s virtues, importance and much more. There are also resources for children.

AQSA RESOURCES: CLICK HERE

Story

Israel get your #HandsOffAlAqsa

Al-Aqsa mosque is a sacred sanctuary in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is the holiest site in Jerusalem for Muslims and an important symbol of Palestinian culture.

Al-Aqsa is in East Jerusalem, which has been under illegal occupation by Israel since 1967 according to international law. Every day under Israeli occupation, the threat to Al-Aqsa increases.

Some Israeli groups wish to build a Jewish temple in the place of Al-Aqsa. The Israeli government frequently allows these groups to visit Al-Aqsa, accompanied by Israeli Occupation Forces. These provocative visits are known as incursions.

Over the last few years, the number of incursions at Al-Aqsa and attacks on Palestinian worshippers have rapidly increased.

In April 2022 for example, during the middle of Ramadan, Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque were attacked 7 times in the space of 10 days. Over 250 worshippers were injured, including women, children and the elderly. Over 700 illegal Israeli settlers were allowed to roam the holy site freely and protected. The glass of Al-Aqsa’s pulpit and the historic windows of Musallah Al-Qibly were smashed by Israeli bullets.

Most recently, the leader of an Israeli group has called for the destruction of Al-Aqsa.

The #HandsOffAlAqsa campaign is dedicated to protecting this sacred site:

  • We encourage you to use the email tool above to write to your MP, calling on them to publicly condemn the ongoing incursions and attacks on Al-Aqsa and to demand immediate sanctions on Israel
  • Get involved in Aqsa Week. This is a global initiative to promote the love of Masjid Al-Aqsa. It is an incredible week for people around the world to create conversation and raise awareness on the centrality of Masjid Al-Aqsa as well as the plight of the Palestinian people. The week includes workshops, talks, activities and shareable content for adults and children held by different countries and organisations, all under the banner of #LoveAqsa. Aqsa Week 2022 was the biggest yet, with events taking place at over 200 mosques across the UK and 50 countries worldwide. Aqsa Week 2023 will be held between Monday 13th Feb – Sunday 19th Feb 2023. 

Read about Aqsa Week 2022 in Arab News, Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, Palestine Chronicle, Islam21C and Salaam Media.

  • For resources on the virtues and significance of Al-Aqsa mosque in Islam, please visit the Aqsa Resources page.

Read about #TeamFOA’s recent #HandsOffAlAqsa protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London in Days of Palestine.

 

 

 

Downloads & Resources

FAQ

What is Al-Aqsa mosque?

Al-Aqsa is a sacred sanctuary in the Old City of Jerusalem, also known as Masjid Al-Aqsa or the Noble Sanctuary.

The entire compound including the land and buildings within the al-Aqsa sanctuary are sacred, with ‘Masjid al-Aqsa’ referring to all the specific buildings upon the land.

This holy site spans approximately 35 acres. Al-Aqsa houses roughly 200 buildings, monuments and courtyards of historical and religious significance. This includes the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as Sukhra, gold domed building) Musallah Al-Qibly (the grey domed building). These buildings have extraordinary historical significance for Muslims; it is the third holiest site in Islam and the place where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven.

It is the holiest site in Jerusalem for Muslims. It is an important symbol of Palestinian culture.

Who constructed the building within al-Aqsa sanctuary?

When the second Caliph ‘Umar entered Jerusalem he requested that he first be taken to al-Haram al-Sharif, the place of Al-Aqsa.

He ordered the construction of a masjid (mosque) at the southern end of the sanctuary. This was originally a wooden structure but was later re-built as a solid structure.

Why is Al-Aqsa under Israeli control? 

In 1967 Israel illegally occupied East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa in the Old City.

Since then, entry and exit to Al-Aqsa has been controlled by Israel. Palestinian access to this holy site is restricted: Palestinians are randomly denied entry, there are age and gender restrictions in place, and Palestinians require permits that are difficult to obtain.

Why is Al-Aqsa under threat?

Some Israeli groups want to build a Jewish temple on the site of Al-Aqsa.

The Israeli government frequently allows these groups to visit Al-Aqsa, accompanied by Israeli Occupation Forces. These visits are known as incursions.

Over the last few years, the number of incursions at Al-Aqsa and attacks on Palestinian worshippers have significantly increased.

We must take action to protect Al-Aqsa: use the email tool above to call on your MP to publicly condemn the ongoing incursions and attacks at Al-Aqsa and to demand sanctions on Israel

What can I do?

You can take action to protect Al-Aqsa today:

  1. Use the email tool above to demand your MP publicly condemns the ongoing incursions and attacks on Al-Aqsa and calls for sanctions on Israel
  2. Get involved with Aqsa Week 2023 (Monday 13th Feb – Sunday 19th Feb)

More info:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-aqsa-mosque-raids-incursions-explained

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/15/israeli-forces-raid-al-aqsa-mosque-over-50-palestinians-injured

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#PowerOffHP

HP supplies software and hardware to Israel, which is used at military checkpoints, watchtowers, outposts, fortified gates and the apartheid wall. The technology provided by HP makes it possible for the occupying forces to monitor and control the Palestinian people.

HP’s Basel System is the software that is installed within the biometric sensors that are in place throughout Israeli checkpoints. Palestinians are required to pass through these biometric sensors, powered by HP, whenever they wish to travel within the West Bank.

These biometric sensors, supported by HP technology, allow occupying Israeli forces to police, track and trace the movement of Palestinians.

HP also provides Itanium servers for Israel’s Aviv System. This technology allows Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority to monitor, classify and segregate the population within occupied Palestine through the Yesha database. This compiles information on Israeli citizens within illegal settlements, allowing the apartheid Israeli state to effectively promote its two-tiered system of laws which prioritise the Jewish population over the Palestinians. 

Furthermore, HP exclusively provides desktops to all branches of the Israeli military. By providing the Israeli army with the equipment to monitor the imprisonment of over two million Gazans, HP is an active accomplice in Israel’s illegal military blockade of Gaza.

In addition, HP also maintains and profits from the IT infrastructure of Israel’s prison system, which currently holds more than 4,500 political prisoners, including at least 150 children.

By providing the occupation forces with the technology that is used to monitor and regulate the movement of Palestinians, HP is supporting Israel’s brutal colonisation of Palestine.

A huge thanks to Unite the Union, the 1.2m members strong union, who are part of the campaign to oppose Hewlett Packard’s (HP) complicity in the occupation of Palestine. The union passed a resolution to stop any purchase of HP products until HP end their involvement in Palestinian human rights violations.

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#StopArmingIsrael

We are calling on the British government to stop funding Israeli war crimes by cancelling its arms export licenses to Israel. UK-made weapons are currently used to oppress Palestinians by using excessive and violent force, making their daily lives unbearable.

 

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#CheckTheLabel

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection and to get closer to God. The end of each day of fasting is marked by having iftar, the meal to end the day’s fast. Iftar usually begins by eating a date.

Unfortunately, without realising, many Muslims break their fast with an Israeli date. Breaking the fast with an Israeli date does not fit with the values of justice and fairness that Muslims try to instil within themselves during Ramadan.

Please remember to #CheckTheLabel to make sure that you’re not breaking your fast with Israeli dates. Dates labelled as from the West Bank and Jordan Valley will have been grown in illegal Israeli settlements on land stolen from Palestinians. You will be buying into the occupation and apartheid of Palestine (and that doesn’t taste good!)

Illegal Israeli settlements are a key part of Israel’s illegal occupation. Palestinians are forcibly removed from their homes or their homes are demolished. The ongoing building of these settlements violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and has been widely criticised by the UN.

As a part of the process of colonisation of Palestine, Israel takes over Palestinian land, sets up companies on that stolen land and they then employ some Palestinians who have no option but to work there since Israel has taken away the opportunity for them to work for themselves. Palestinians would rather have their land back and than have called for a boycott of Israeli goods.

What can you do?

1) When shopping this Ramadan, #CheckTheLabel on the packaging for the ‘origin of’/’produce of’ is. If it’s from Israel, the West Bank or the Jordan Valley, choose another option.  Also boycott dates from Israeli companies shown in the image below.

To confuse the customer, some Israeli brands have labelled themselves as ‘Produce of Palestine’. Our research, at present, can only verify genuine Palestinian brands: Yaffa, Zaytoun, Holy Land, Al’Ard

 

2) Email the Foreign Secretary urging the British government to ban trade with Israeli settlements.

The UK government repeatedly condemns Israeli settlements, but it still trades with them! The UK is Israel’s second largest market for dates – worth £28m in 2020. The average British person consumes over 20kg of dates in their lifetime – so make sure you’re not buying into occupation and apartheid.

You can email the foreign secretary above.

These simple actions are a powerful way to stand up for justice and against occupation and apartheid.

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