By Staff, Agencies

The Muslim foundation that runs the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied al-Quds, known as al-Waqf, said it would defy an ‘Israeli’ court order barring access to part of the holy site.

There have recently been scuffles between worshippers and ‘Israeli’ police there over the use of a side building called the Bab al-Rahma, closed by the Zionist regime since 2003.

Arguing there was no longer any reason for it to remain shut, Palestinian officials reopened the building last month and crowds of worshippers prayed inside despite the ‘Israeli’ closure.

Meanwhile, an ‘Israeli’ court this week gave the Waqf until March 10 to explain why the closure order should be lifted.

“As the Waqf does not formally recognize the ‘Israeli’ court system, it is unlikely to issue a formal response, in which case the court is expected to approve closure of the building,” Ir Amim, an NGO opposing the Zionist settlement expansion activities, said in a statement, AFP reported.

“It is anticipated that a forced closure by the police will trigger significant numbers of Palestinians rallying or breaking the closure.”

That, it said, was liable to lead to “a harsh police reaction” at the compound, which includes Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock.

“The decisions of the courts do not apply to the mosque of Al-Aqsa,” Sheikh Abdel-Azim Salhab, the leader of the Waqf council, said in a video clip published Tuesday.

“It is our right, religious and contractual, to access the Golden Gate and keep this door open for Muslims to pray,” he said.