Saudi Arabia Condemns Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
In a strong statement, Saudi Arabia has denounced the recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by Israeli government officials, Knesset members, and extremist settlers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized Israeli authorities for allowing extremists to organize a provocative march in Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli defense forces.
Thousands of Israeli nationalists, waving flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans, marched through the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem on Wednesday. The streets were noticeably empty of Palestinians, who feared potential attacks during the so-called Jerusalem Day flag march, which commemorates the Israeli army’s capture of the city’s eastern sector in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. This area is home to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, considered Islam’s third holiest site and known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia deemed these actions as a deliberate provocation to Muslims worldwide, especially given the ongoing violence against defenseless Palestinian civilians in Gaza and other occupied territories. Saudi Arabia stressed that such systematic attacks not only violate international resolutions but also disrespect the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its sacred sites. These actions further hinder efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace, particularly through the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
(With AFP)