ISIS has urged Muslims to set fire to churches and synagogues around the world this Easter weekend, according to multiple reports. The group's propaganda reportedly called for attacks in the US, Europe, Russia, UAE, Syria, Tunisia, and Morocco during the Easter holidays. In the latest edition of its al-Naba newspaper, ISIS also called for attacks during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began yesterday and ends next Thursday.
ISIS's call for attacks is in response to the closure of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, multiple reports indicate. Israel closed the al-Aqsa Mosque in late February, with authorities extending the closure until mid-April. Today marks 34 days since the Israeli occupation closed the mosque to worshippers over what they described as security concerns amid the war with Iran.
Families escaped while we were present because the camp is large and the smuggling routes are very varied.
Israel declared a nationwide state of emergency and prohibited mass gatherings, including at holy sites. The Palestinian Authority condemned the closure of the mosque, which previously remained open since 1967. Extremist settlers called to access the al-Aqsa Mosque site to hold rituals for Passover, according to multiple reports.
It remains unknown whether any attempts to access the site have occurred. A detention camp for tens of thousands of people linked to ISIS has been largely emptied due to the shocking number of escapes, multiple reports indicate. Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria is almost empty after the Syrian state took control of the site.
He said lots of people had already escaped before Syrian forces took charge as guards left and the gates were open.
According to Daily Express - World, Fadi al Qassem, the Syrian foreign ministry's representative for al Hol camp administration, described families escaping while Syrian officials were present because the camp is large and the smuggling routes are very varied. He also described lots of people having already escaped before Syrian forces took charge as guards left and the gates were open. According to Daily Express - World, Fadi al Qassem described officials finding evidence of people using forged documents and identification cards of people who'd already left.
He blamed unreliable population records and established smuggling rings that have made it difficult to keep track of who was already in the site when Syrian forces took it over. The exact number of people who escaped from al Hol camp and their current whereabouts are unknown. It remains unknown whether any attacks have occurred in response to ISIS's call for violence during Easter weekend.
Officials also found evidence of people using forged documents and identification cards of people who'd already left, he added.
The specific security measures being taken by countries mentioned in ISIS's threat to prevent attacks are also unclear. The official Israeli justification for extending the closure of al-Aqsa Mosque until mid-April has not been detailed.
Mr al Qassem blamed unreliable population records and established smuggling rings that have made it difficult to keep track of who was already in the site when Syrian forces took it over.