GAZA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement on Tuesday announced that it opposes the visits of Arabs and Muslims to Jerusalem and to the holy site of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The movement said in an emailed press statement that "these visits are considered a normalization with the Israeli occupation as the city is still under this occupation."
Earlier on Monday, Eyad Madani, the Secretary General of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, stated that "visiting in al-Aqsa Mosque and praying there is considered normalization with the occupation (Israel)."
Madani, who arrived in the Palestinian territories on Monday, paid a visit to Jerusalem and to al-Aqsa Mosque and held meetings with Palestinian officials in charge of Jerusalem's affairs in the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
The Hamas statement said "the liberation of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is a duty to every Arab and every Muslim all over the world. This liberation has to be achieved through out Jihad (Holy War) and resistance."
Meanwhile, Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for deciding to resubmit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council for ending the Israeli occupation.
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