The Palestine Scholars Association (PSA) has warned that the Israeli occupation is intensifying its campaign against Palestinian identity by increasingly targeting Islamic holy sites, religious symbols and acts of worship, describing the actions as part of a broader assault on the Palestinian people and the Muslim Ummah.

In a statement released on Saturday, the association said the occupation's aggression has moved beyond attacks on Palestinian land and civilians to include systematic violations against Islam's sacred institutions and places of worship.

“Attacks on mosques, the Holy Qur’an, the adhan (call to prayer), and the Aqsa and Ibrahimi Mosques constitute a systematic aggression against the identity of the Islamic nation as a whole, not merely against the Palestinian people,” the statement said.

The PSA pointed to a series of violations committed by Israeli forces and settlers since the beginning of the war on Gaza, including the destruction of approximately 1,000 mosques across the besieged enclave. The association said the widespread devastation of houses of worship reflects an attempt to erase religious and cultural landmarks that have long been central to Palestinian society.

The scholars' body also condemned reported incidents involving the burning, tearing and desecration of copies of the Holy Qur’an, describing them as grave attacks on Islamic sanctities. It further highlighted reports of insults directed at the Prophet Muhammad during settler incursions into the courtyards of the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites.

According to the PSA, attacks have not been limited to Gaza. The association cited repeated assaults on mosques in the occupied West Bank, including arson attacks and acts of vandalism, as well as legislative efforts aimed at restricting the adhan. The group referred to a preliminary bill approved by the Israeli Knesset that would limit the Islamic call to prayer, describing it as another attempt to undermine Palestinian religious freedoms and Islamic presence in the occupied land.

The association warned that these actions represent a dangerous escalation in the occupation's policies and an attack on the religious identity and historical heritage of Palestine.

Calling for a stronger response from the Muslim world, the PSA urged leaders of Islamic countries to take meaningful steps to support the Palestinian people, protect Islamic holy sites and confront ongoing violations committed under the occupation.

The scholars stressed that safeguarding Palestine's sacred places is a collective responsibility of the Muslim Ummah and called on governments, scholars and institutions to intensify political, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in defense of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian people.

The statement concluded by emphasizing that continued silence in the face of attacks on Islamic sanctities risks emboldening further violations, while reaffirming the steadfastness of Palestinians in defending their land, their holy sites and their national and religious identity despite the ongoing aggression. (ILKHA)