Istafa Ali
Stun grenades were fired by Israeli troops when they invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and attacked Palestinian worshippers.
After an Israeli police raid at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, a Palestinian worshipper cleans up the wreckage.
The event has sparked worries of a larger conflagration as Muslims celebrate the holy month of Ramadan and Jews get ready for the start of Passover.
The Israeli soldiers’ raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque overnight, during which they fired stun grenades and attacked Palestinian worshippers, has shocked and alarmed the UN, Turkey, the US, Canada, and several other nations and organisations.
The event, which occurred as Jews were getting ready to start Passover and Muslims were marking the holy month of Ramadan, has sparked worries of a larger conflagration.
Shocking eye-witness footage from inside Al Aqsa mosque showing the Israeli occupation forces mercilessly attacking Palestinian Muslims tonight for practicing “Itikaf”, a traditional night-time #ramadan ritual @tariqahmadbt @FCDOArabic @JamesCleverly @FCDOGovUK @FCDOHumanRights pic.twitter.com/l2eaF4sW5y
— Palestine in the UK (@PalMissionUK) April 4, 2023
Israeli jets struck many facilities in the beleaguered coastal territory as Palestinian fighters in Gaza retaliated with rocket fire.
This is how the globe responded to Israel’s Wednesday assault.
United Nations
Images of Israeli security officers abusing individuals at the Al-Aqsa Mosque startled and disgusted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.
According to Stephane Dujarric, Guterres found it more upsetting that the “violence and beating” occurred “during a period of a calendar which is sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims that should be a time for peace and nonviolence” when he saw photographs of it at the holy place.
He said, “Places of worship should only be utilised for lawful religious practises.
United States
The White House expressed its “grave worry” and encouraged both Israelis and Palestinians to exercise calm.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, “We remain deeply worried by the continued violence and we encourage all parties to avoid further escalation.
“Now more than ever, it is essential that Israelis and Palestinians cooperate in order to defuse this tension and reestablish calm.”
Turkey
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, denounced the Israeli police raid and said that such actions in a mosque complex crossed a “red line” for his country.
Erdogan added, “In the name of my nation and people, I denounce the heinous crimes against the first qibla of Muslims and I ask for the assaults to stop as soon as possible. The term of this is repressional politics, bloody politics, and provocative politics. Turkey cannot tolerate these assaults with silence or indifference.
A red line for us is touching the Al-Aqsa Mosque or disrespecting its holiness.
The assaults on worshippers were condemned by Turkey as “unacceptable” and a “violation” of their “sacred” nature.
Mevlut Cavusoglu, the foreign minister of Turkey, stated on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels that “normalisation with Israel has started, but our commitment cannot be at the price of the Palestinian cause and our ideals.”
“These assaults have gone above and beyond.”
Islamic League
The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex has been the target of Israeli “crimes,” and the Arab League has urged the UN Security Council to act.
The Arab League denounced Israeli attacks in a statement during an emergency meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.
In the final days of Ramadan, “these crimes escalated dangerously, resulting in hundreds of injuries and arrests of worshippers, incursions and deliberate desecration of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist Israeli officials and settlers under the protection of the occupation forces,” the statement read.
The declaration denounced “any Israeli abuses of Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly those intended to alter the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s historical and legal status quo.”
Canada
The Israeli government’s “inflamed language,” according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was criticised, and he asked it to alter its stance towards the Palestinians.
The violence around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the inflammatory language emanating from the Israeli government, the judicial changes, and all of these things are very concerning to us, added Trudeau.
He said, “We need to see the Israeli government change its strategy. Canada is expressing that as a beloved, close, and firm ally to Israel, we are profoundly worried about the route that the Israeli government has been pursuing.
Jordan
Since the 1967 conflict, Jordan has served as the guardian of the Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. Jordan has denounced Israel’s “flagrant” invasion of the complex.
Egypt
Israel’s “blatant attack” on Al-Aqsa worshippers was condemned by Egypt’s foreign ministry.
Germany
A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said that “everyone who has control over the situation has the obligation to not pour further fuel on the fire and to do everything necessary to calm the situation.”
Johnny Depp film to open at Cannes fest
In addition to Jordanian officials, who are in charge of running the Al-Aqsa Mosque, maintaining tight communication with Israeli and Palestinian authorities was “vital,” he said.
Qatar
In a statement, Qatar said that if the international community does not move quickly to take action, Israeli activities “would have major ramifications on security and stability in the area and will undermine attempts to resuscitate the stalled peace process.”
Emirate of the Arabs
According to a statement from the foreign ministry, the United Arab Emirates likewise strongly denounced the Israeli police’s invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The UAE urged the Israeli government to stop the escalation and prevent raising tension and instability in the area, it added.
