This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/world/middleeast/israel-palestinians-gaza-ramadan.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israel Cancels Some Gazans’ Access to Al Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan | Israel Cancels Some Gazans’ Access to Al Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel canceled permission for hundreds of residents of Gaza to enter Jerusalem to pray during Ramadan in Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, after rocket fire from the coastal enclave, officials said on Wednesday. | |
| The move represents the latest effort by Israel this week to rescind gestures that were intended to ease movement into Israeli-controlled territory for the holy month of Ramadan. | The move represents the latest effort by Israel this week to rescind gestures that were intended to ease movement into Israeli-controlled territory for the holy month of Ramadan. |
| Critics said the move highlighted how tightly Israel controls Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and they likened it to collective punishment. | Critics said the move highlighted how tightly Israel controls Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and they likened it to collective punishment. |
| The Israeli military agency that handles Palestinian civilian affairs, known as Cogat, said on Twitter that it had made the decision after rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza on Tuesday night, in violation of a truce that was put in place after the war last summer between Hamas and Israel. | The Israeli military agency that handles Palestinian civilian affairs, known as Cogat, said on Twitter that it had made the decision after rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza on Tuesday night, in violation of a truce that was put in place after the war last summer between Hamas and Israel. |
| The agency had planned to allow hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to worship in the compound of Al Aqsa each Thursday and Friday of Ramadan, which began last week. | The agency had planned to allow hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to worship in the compound of Al Aqsa each Thursday and Friday of Ramadan, which began last week. |
| Israeli authorities have restricted movement in and out of Gaza since Hamas won elections in 2006, and the restrictions were further tightened after Hamas drove out the Fatah party in Gaza in 2007. Most Palestinians in the West Bank must apply for permits to enter Israeli-controlled areas, except for older residents, who can generally move about freely. | Israeli authorities have restricted movement in and out of Gaza since Hamas won elections in 2006, and the restrictions were further tightened after Hamas drove out the Fatah party in Gaza in 2007. Most Palestinians in the West Bank must apply for permits to enter Israeli-controlled areas, except for older residents, who can generally move about freely. |
| An extremist group loyal to the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but Israeli officials hold Hamas accountable for actions in Gaza. | An extremist group loyal to the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but Israeli officials hold Hamas accountable for actions in Gaza. |
| The cancellation affected 500 Palestinians who were planning to worship in Al Aqsa Mosque on Thursday and Friday, an Israeli official said. She spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the agency’s guidelines. | The cancellation affected 500 Palestinians who were planning to worship in Al Aqsa Mosque on Thursday and Friday, an Israeli official said. She spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the agency’s guidelines. |
| Palestinians in Gaza were still allowed to visit family members in the West Bank, another gesture announced for Ramadan, she said. | Palestinians in Gaza were still allowed to visit family members in the West Bank, another gesture announced for Ramadan, she said. |
| But Israeli officials reversed several other measures related to Ramadan this week, including moves that would have allowed Palestinians from the village of Sair, in the West Bank, to enter Jerusalem to worship and let 500 Palestinians fly out of Israel’s main airport. Palestinians in the West Bank who are hoping to fly must cross into Jordan to fly from an international airport. | But Israeli officials reversed several other measures related to Ramadan this week, including moves that would have allowed Palestinians from the village of Sair, in the West Bank, to enter Jerusalem to worship and let 500 Palestinians fly out of Israel’s main airport. Palestinians in the West Bank who are hoping to fly must cross into Jordan to fly from an international airport. |
| Those moves came after a young man from the village stabbed and seriously wounded an Israeli police officer on Sunday. | Those moves came after a young man from the village stabbed and seriously wounded an Israeli police officer on Sunday. |
| “This whole issue of restrictions, and easing restrictions, is another example of how much control the Israelis exert over Palestinians,” said Sarit Michaeli, a spokeswoman for the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “not just in the West Bank, but also in Gaza, under indirect Israeli control.” | “This whole issue of restrictions, and easing restrictions, is another example of how much control the Israelis exert over Palestinians,” said Sarit Michaeli, a spokeswoman for the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “not just in the West Bank, but also in Gaza, under indirect Israeli control.” |