Responding to news of Israel's limitations on Palestinian access to Al Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem, War on Want’s senior militarism and security campaigner, Ryvka Barnard, said:

"Israel’s militarisation of the Al Aqsa mosque is a clear example of the wide ranging repression facing Palestinians including: preventing them from accessing a site holy to Palestinian Muslims, an important heritage site for non-Muslim Palestinians as well, and using disproportionate and armed force against Palestinians exercising their fundamental human right to protest. 

The UK must stop aiding Israel’s repression of Palestinians. Just last year, the UK Government granted more than £100 million worth of licences for the export of arms to Israel, despite its policy stating that arms exports should not be approved to states using them for ‘internal repression’. The UK government must end its complicity in human rights violations and suspend its arms trade with Israel until it respects international law."

Notes to editors

Background:

AP News: Israel limits Muslim access to Jerusalem site amid tensions

Al Jazeera English: Timeline, Al-Aqsa Mosque

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