A recent video titled “Why did the IDF bomb the Al-Ansar Mosque in the city of Jenin?” has been making rounds on the internet, sparking a flurry of discussions and debates. In this video, Yoseph Haddad delves into the reasons behind the IDF’s decision to target the mosque.
Haddad explained that a few months prior to the incident, the IDF conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the area. During this operation, they uncovered vast underground tunnels beneath the Al-Ansar Mosque. These tunnels were not empty; they were filled with a significant amount of ammunition and weapons. The purpose of these weapons? To be used against Israeli citizens.
The discovery was alarming, to say the least. Mosques, like any place of worship, are meant to be sanctuaries for prayer and reflection. However, Palestinian terrorists allegedly defiled the Al-Ansar Mosque by turning it into a base for their operations. Their likely assumption was that the IDF would refrain from attacking a religious site.
However, following the brutal attack on October 7, 2023, attributed to Hamas, Israel decided to take action against the tunnel system beneath the mosque. The rationale was clear: to protect its citizens and neutralize the threat posed by these weapon caches.
It’s a stark reminder of how sacred spaces can be manipulated for ulterior motives. The incident underscores the complexities and challenges of counter-terrorism operations, especially when religious sites are involved.