Wide condemnation, reactions to IOF storming of Al-Aqsa

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Apr 2023 08:31

The official spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency says attacking worshippers represent a brutal war against the Palestinian people.

Israeli occupation forces outside Al-Aqsa Mosque on April 5, 2023 (AFP)

The Palestinian presidency and Prime Minister on Wednesday strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces storming Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers, warning of dire consequences for this action.

The official spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, warned the Israeli occupation authorities against crossing the red lines in holy sites, which will lead to a big explosion.

Abu Rudeineh pointed out that the acts of the Israeli occupation at Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers represent a brutal war against the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, which will inflame the region.

"We hold the occupation government fully responsible for any deterioration," the Palestinian Spokesperson underlined in a statement, adding that the occupation must "stop this absurdity, which will have dangerous consequences for everyone."

Abu Rudeineh also called on the United States administration to act to put an end to "Israel's" playing with fire.

“They’re besieging us, they want to kill us”

Palestinian women worshipers are crying out as Israeli forces savagely assault them inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. pic.twitter.com/slW5yhakRL
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 5, 2023

Major crime against worshippers

On his part, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh considered that the current Al-Quds events are a major crime against worshippers.

"Praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque does not require the permission of the Israeli occupation, but rather it is our right," Shtayyeh affirmed, adding that "Israel" does not want to learn from history, that Al-Aqsa is for the Palestinians and all Arabs and Muslims, and that storming it sparks a revolution against the Israeli occupation.

Israeli occupation police brutally stormed the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and forcibly expelled Palestinian worshippers stationed inside the compound to pave the way for illegal Israeli settlers to storm the Mosque in the morning and offer sacrifices to mark the "Jewish Passover holiday."

Fire breaks out in Al-Qibli Prayer Hall amidst the lsraeli aggression on the Palestinian worshippers inside. pic.twitter.com/iCbsNoOav3
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) April 5, 2023

The occupation police fired tear gas into Al-Qibli Mosque, causing several suffocation cases. It also violently detained several worshippers.

The Israeli occupation police announced the arrest of 350 worshippers from Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Following the Israeli acts of aggression, the Palestinian Resistance responded from Gaza, launching two salvoes of rockets toward the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948, with reports saying that several rockets hit Israeli military targets.

Later, Al Mayadeen correspondent in Gaza reported that the Israeli occupation carried out air aggression at dawn targeting several Palestinian Resistance sites.

The warplanes bombed the Abu Jrad site south of the strip, the Badr site in its west, and the west of Al-Nuseirat camp.

Israeli occupation forces also bombed a site east of Al-Fukhari in Khan Yunis in the southern Strip, in addition to shelling a field control point in Beit Lahia in the northern Strip with artillery.

According to our correspondent in Gaza, the Israeli aggression on Resistance sites in the Strip did not result in any casualties.

The Islamic Endowments Department in Al-Quds considered that the Israeli occupation's actions constitute a flagrant violation of the identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a place of worship for Muslims.

Hamas Spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the Israeli occupation aggression against worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque is a heinous crime and part of its religious war, stressing that the Palestinian people will not allow the occupation's plans to be implemented in the Mosque.

Al Mayadeen correspondent pointed out that the occupation set the forced expulsion of the dozens detained from the Old City of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque as a condition for their release.

Arab countries strongly condemn Al-Aqsa storming

In the same context, several Arab countries condemned the Israeli police storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attacking worshippers.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said Saudi Arabia was following with concern the developments at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Ministry affirmed that the Kingdom condemns this blatant incursion and expresses its categorical rejection of these practices that violate international principles and norms that call for respect of religious sanctities.

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its position in supporting all efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry considered that such hateful and reprehensible scenes, and repeated Israeli violations of the sanctity of the holy places, fuel feelings of anger among all the Palestinian people and the Islamic nation.

Similarly, Jordan strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and called on the Israeli occupation to stop such acts against worshippers, which it said violate international norms, holding the occupation fully responsible for any consequences.