The Israeli occupation forces stormed the Al Aqsa mosque early yesterday, arresting hundreds of Palestinians gathered there for worship. The Israeli move is a dangerous new escalation in the conflict and threatens the already fragile peace and order in the occupied territories. Israeli forces have increased their escalation and aggression against Palestinians ever since the most right-wing government in Israel’s history took office in late December under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. So far this year, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 91 Palestinians, 15 Israelis and one Ukrainian, according to official sources from both sides.
The Israeli aggression also threatens further clashes with the armed Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip. The blockaded territory has already witnessed a number of deadly Israeli air attacks in recent years. Israeli jets again targeted sites in the Strip yesterday, following rocket fires from Gaza.
The Israeli aggression against the Al Aqsa mosque in the holy month of Ramadan has affected the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world and has drawn strong rebuke from Arab and Muslim countries. The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces’ storming and vandalism of the Al Aqsa mosque, attacking worshipers, preventing ambulances from reaching the injured, evacuating the worshipers from Al-Qibli prayer hall, imposing restrictions on the mosque’s gates and preventing Palestinians from entering. Qatar said Jerusalem is an occupied city and the responsibility to protect worshipers’ rights, which are guaranteed by all international and humanitarian covenants, lay exclusively with the Israeli occupation forces.
The Cabinet, which met yesterday with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in the chair, also denounced the Israeli occupation forces’ assault against worshippers at the mosque. It said these aggressive Israeli measures will have serious repercussions on security and stability in the region, and will undermine efforts to revive the stalled peace process.
Other countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League have condemned the storming of the Al Aqsa mosque and sought an end to Israeli escalation, and called for safeguarding the sanctity of the holy places. Western nations including the US and Germany also voiced concerns and urged calm.
For long, Israeli forces have operated in the occupied Palestinian territories with impunity. The global community must take note and act now.
