‘We were stranded in a war zone

A group of women whose pilgrimage to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem was disrupted by the recent Iranian-Israeli conflict returned to his home safely.

Women, from Bradford, described how their spiritual journey in the Middle East quickly disappeared by missile alerts, increased safety measures and fears for their safety.

The group finally fled to neighboring Jordan and, after several flight delays and cancellations, said they had returned home after paying thousands of pounds in additional costs.

Bana Gora, CEO of Muslim Women’s Council that organized the trip, said: “We prayed on the hotel roof, under the open sky, not knowing if we would never come back.”

The Al-Aqsa mosque is in East Jerusalem and is part of a site considered sacred by Muslims, Jews and Christians around the world. The area was captured and occupied in 1967 by Israeli forces. Under international law, East Jerusalem is considered to be part of the occupied Palestinian territories (OPTS).

The visit to the Bradford group, alongside a larger part of 45 years, coincided with a 12 -day conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 – four days after the group’s fly – when Israel made air strikes on the Iranian military and nuclear sites.

Iran responded with a large-scale missile and drone attacks before a ceasefire in the United States was declared on June 24.

The Bradford group, speaking during a return event, said that they had been aware of the pre -existing tensions in the region in the broad sense. However, they did not plan to enter a “war zone”, the Gaza conflict concentrated at 40 miles.

Despite the experience, they say that they have no regrets, a lot in the group saying that they would go to the sacred site again.

Saadia Mushtaq said: “Naturally, we are human and it is something that we have never known before, being British. We have never known any missiles that moved above our heads.

“But the way I look at it is that the difficulties were nothing compared to what the Palestinians go through daily.”

By explaining why such trips remain important despite the risks, she added: “It is important to testify. Many people in our group had never been there before, it was therefore to help them understand the importance of this holy place and because it is important for all Abrahamic religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam.”

Another participant, Mariam Nisa, said: “I feel so relieved. I think we have not yet really treated everything that has happened. It is surreal.”

She added: “The mosque is a holy place which is mentioned several times in our scriptures. We therefore know that it is the duty to try to visit if we can, and we are the luckiest who are able to do so.

“Palestinians and people who live in Jerusalem are not really able to enter the complex. We want to try to visit because we are very lucky to do it.”

When they left, she said: “No regrets. I am so grateful for the trip.”

Ms. Gora added: “This visit was a gift – but also an alarm clock. The Al -Aqsa mosque is not only ours to admire, it is up to us to protect – in faith, in memory and in action.”

The advice of Foreign Office (FCDO) to British nationals in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories have been relaxed from the conflict. He no longer advises all trips or all, except essential trips, in certain regions of Israel and the West Bank, but continues to advise on all trips or all, except essential trips, in other regions of Israel and options.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously declared to BBC Yorkshire: “It is a painful moment for British nationals in the region, their security and their security are our absolute priority.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs works 24 hours a day to … support British nationals affected.”

Listen to the protruding facts of West Yorkshire on the BBC soundscatches the last episode of Look north.

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