Israel accused of attempting to 'erase' Palestinian Muslim identity

Israel accused of attempting to 'erase' Palestinian Muslim identity Submitted by Simon Hooper on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 10:50 Report says destruction of mosques in Gaza and restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa form part of systematic campaign to 'obliterate Palestinian life' Palestinians pray outside the Damascus Gate during the last Friday prayers of Ramadan in occupied East Jerusalem on 13 March 2026 (John Wessels/AFP) Off Israel is waging a systematic campaign of violence, destruction and persecution that threatens to erase the religious and cultural identities of Palestinian Muslims, according to a report to be published on Friday. The report, by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), a UK-based legal advocacy campaign group, found that Palestinian Muslims throughout the occupied territories and Israel had faced escalating anti-Muslim discrimination since October 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel and the launch of Israel’s assault on Gaza . It said Muslims had been subjected to increased persecution during the current holy month of Ramadan, citing an attack in February by settlers on a mosque in Nablus, punitive measures restricting access to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, and the detention by Israeli security forces of more than 100 Palestinians during the first week of the month.