Hamas Condemns Preliminary Israeli Bill Targeting Mosque Call to Prayer

Hamas has condemned the preliminary approval of a bill in the Israeli Knesset that would restrict the use of loudspeakers for the Muslim call to prayer (Adhan) at mosques in Jerusalem’s Old City and other areas under Israeli control. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group described the proposed legislation as a dangerous escalation against Muslim holy sites and Palestinian identity.

According to Hamas, the proposed measure infringes on freedom of worship and violates international principles protecting religious practices and places of worship. The group argued that the legislation would limit the public practice of Islam and negatively affect religious life in Palestinian communities.

Hamas also claimed that the bill is part of a broader Israeli policy aimed at targeting Muslim holy sites and undermining the Arab and Islamic identity of the Palestinian territories. Israeli lawmakers backing similar proposals in the past have argued that regulating loudspeaker volume is intended to address noise concerns, while critics contend such measures disproportionately affect Muslim religious practices.