Hamas has expressed concern over an Israeli conspiracy to empty Jerusalem al-Quds of its Palestinian residents after the inauguration of a synagogue in the Old City near the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Hamas deputy chief Moussa Abu Marzuk told Press TV that the Tel Aviv regime is determined to replace Palestinian mosques and churches with Jewish sites in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

He said Israeli police deployed thousands of forces to the city in a bid to force Palestinians into leaving it.

His remarks came amid international concerns over the regime’s moves which threaten Christian and Muslim sites.

The US State Department’s annual report on human rights denounced Israel for only protecting Jewish sites in Jerusalem al-Quds, saying Christian and Muslim houses of worship are neglected, inaccessible, or threatened by property development.

Israel reopened the Hurva synagogue which was destroyed during the 1948 Middle East war, on Monday.

The incident has been the latest to provoke tension between Israeli forces and Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Israel, which seized East Jerusalem al-Quds and the Holy City area in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it afterwards, claims the city is its eternal and indivisible capital.

The claim, however, has not been recognized by the international community.

(Press TV)