Condemnations have poured in over the “provocative” incursions of al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, by Israeli settlers under the protection of the regime’s forces.
In a statement on Sunday, Egypt’s foreign ministry said the incursions of al-Aqsa Mosque compound by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces are “a new episode of a series of escalatory measures that provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world.”
The ministry warned that such moves could fuel violence and tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Cairo also urged the Israeli regime to “stop such escalatory practices” that represent a “blatant violation of the legal and historical status-quo of al-Quds city” and its holy sites.
It also urged “influential international parties” to shoulder their responsibility to protect the sanctities of the Palestinian nation and their legitimate rights, especially their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with East al-Quds as its capital.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister also denounced “the repetition of provocative practices” by a number of “extremists” under the protection of Israeli forces in a statement on Sunday.
The ministry said such Israeli actions “undermine international peace efforts” and “contradict international principles and norms” regarding the respect of religious sanctities.
The statement reiterated the kingdom’s support for the “brotherly” Palestinian nation, and for efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and reaching “a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause that enables the Palestinian people to establish an independent state on the 1967 borders, with East al-Quds as its capital.”
Also on Sunday, Qatar emphasized that the incursions are “a blatant violation of international law.”
Qatar’s foreign ministry stressed that the attempts to change the status quo of the al-Aqsa “is not an aggression on Palestinians alone but on millions of Muslims around the world.”
Doha held Israel responsible for any rise in violence, urging the international community to take immediate action to stop such aggressions.
The statements came as hundreds of settlers stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the eve of the so-called Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and provocatively performed rituals and Talmudic prayers there.
In defiance of the condemnations, Israeli setters continued their provocative actions on Monday, storming the al-Aqsa Mosque compound once again under the protection of Israeli forces.
Israel also imposed restrictions at the gates of al-Aqsa to prevent Muslim worshipers from entering the mosque.
In the meantime, Israeli forces attacked a number of worshipers and drove them out of the mosque.
The Israeli raids and restrictions also drew strong condemnation from the Arab Parliament on Monday.
The parliament stressed that the incursions could increase violence and escalate the conflict.
Referring to the growing Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip, the parliament described the Tel Aviv regime’s practices as “crimes against humanity.”
The parliament also held Israel responsible for any increased tensions, calling on the United Nations and the UN Security Council as well as international institutions to exert pressure on Israel to “stop its crimes and repeated violations” against the Palestinians.
Israelis have been engaged in provocative intrusions into the Mosque, one of the holiest Muslim sites in the world located in the occupied city of al-Quds, in recent months in what many believe is a plot to divide the Mosque and to turn parts of it to a Jewish temple.
Non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited according to an agreement between Israel and Jordan following the regime’s seizure of East al-Quds in 1967.
Calls for the regular presence of Jewish extremists in the al-Aqsa Mosque have increased in recent days concurrent with holidays marking the Jewish New Year.
