Palestinian and Arab Condemnations of Ben Gvir's Raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque

SadaNews - The Palestinian Foreign Ministry and other countries condemned the raid by extremist Minister Itamar Ben Gvir from the occupying government on the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, under heavy protection from the occupying forces, and the continuation of its closure by military force for the thirty-ninth consecutive day, coupled with intensified closure measures in the vicinity of the Old City.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry considered what occurred as a blatant violation of the historical and legal status in occupied Jerusalem and an insult to the feelings of Palestinians and people of the world and their believers.

The ministry confirmed in a statement issued today, Tuesday, that this raid falls within a systematic Israeli policy managed at the level of the Israeli occupying government, aimed at imposing a fait accompli by force and undermining the existing situation in East Jerusalem, especially in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, within a colonial project that seeks to judaize Jerusalem and its holy sites and forcibly displace its residents - the rightful owners of the land - through illegal procedures, altering its legal, humanitarian, historical, and civilizational character.

The ministry pointed out that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunams, is purely a place of worship for Muslims.

The ministry affirmed that the State of Palestine holds sovereignty over the occupied East Jerusalem, a right guaranteed to it under recognized international law, and that the Israeli occupation holds no sovereignty over the city or any of its holy sites, and that any unilateral illegal measures by the occupying authorities are null and void and have no legal weight, constituting an assault on the historical and legal rights of Palestinians in the holy city.

The ministry held the Israeli occupying government fully responsible for these violations, demanding it to open the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre immediately, lift all restrictions imposed on the access of worshippers, and prevent incursions and assaults by colonizers on holy sites.

It also called on the international community and all its institutions, including UNESCO, to take urgent action to stop these violations and ensure freedom of worship in occupied Jerusalem, while intensifying international presence on the ground, and imposing sanctions to hold the occupying government and all involved accountable for their crimes and violations.

Egypt

Meanwhile, the Arab Republic of Egypt condemned the raid in the strongest terms, considering it a step that represents a serious escalation and an unacceptable provocation, and a blatant violation of the provisions of international law and international humanitarian law, subverting the historical and legal situation in East Jerusalem.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that it completely rejects such practices that violate the sanctity of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, emphasizing that the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its entirety, is a purely place of worship for Muslims, and that any attempts to impose a new reality are invalid, rejected, and unacceptable.

Egypt reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.

In the meanwhile, Egypt expressed its deep concern over the continued restrictions imposed on worshippers' access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and restricting freedom of worship, representing a gross violation of international law, fuelling tensions, and threatening to explode the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

It stressed the need to respect the historical and legal role of Islamic endowments in Jerusalem, particularly the Hashemite guardianship in managing the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and organizing entry to it, preserving its sanctity and safeguarding the existing situation.

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also condemned the raid today, Tuesday. The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement, "The Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms and denounces the blatant raid carried out by a minister in the Israeli occupying government, protected by the occupying forces, on the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, reiterating its complete rejection of the continuation of Israeli violations of international laws and the infringement on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, provoking the feelings of Muslims around the world."

It added: "The Kingdom emphasizes the importance of the international community fulfilling its responsibility to stop all Israeli violations and infringements against the Palestinian people, and sacred and historical sites in occupied Palestine, respecting the historical and legal status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and holding the occupation accountable for these repeated and heinous practices."

Kuwait

Meanwhile, the State of Kuwait condemned the raid. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry expressed in a statement, "The State of Kuwait condemns and denounces the raid by a minister in the Israeli occupying government on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of occupying forces, in a gross violation of international law and international humanitarian law."

The ministry affirmed "Kuwait's firm rejection of all provocative practices that undermine the existing legal and historical status in Jerusalem and its sanctities," reiterating its call for the international community to assume its responsibilities to stop these violations.

The ministry also renewed its affirmation of "Kuwait's steadfast position in support of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them establishing their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital."