Tehran Slams Zionist Settlers’ Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
In a statement on Sunday, Saeed Khatibzadeh strongly slammed the desecration of Muslims’ first qibla by occupiers.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds early Sunday amid tensions over a planned flag march. According to reports, Israeli police stormed the mosque courtyard and allowed settlers into the site through the compound's Al-Mugharbah Gate, and chased Palestinian worshipers inside the complex. A number of worshipers were reportedly detained by Israeli forces.
Al-Quds will remain the eternal capital of Palestine, Khatibzadeh stressed.
Hailing the resistance of the Palestinian people and defenders of Quds, the spokesman warned Zionists against launching new provocations.
Naming the Palestinian cause the first priority of the Muslim world, he added, “It is the duty of all freedom seekers across the world, especially Muslim countries, to unite for an all-out defense of al-Quds and confrontation with the apartheid Zionist regime.”
Expressing assurances that the Palestinian resistance will not hesitate in standing against terrorist acts of the Israeli regime, he also called on international organizations to fulfill their legal responsibility and prevent occupiers’ attacks against the Palestinian people.
Far-right lawmaker Itamar BenGvir, a notorious Israeli opposition figure, and a number of his supporters were reportedly among those who stormed the complex on Sunday.
The settler intrusion into the Al-Aqsa complex comes as Israeli settlers plan to stage a controversial flag march to mark what they call the day of unifying Jerusalem, in reference to Israel's occupation of the city in 1967.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Since 2003, Israel has allowed settlers into the compound almost daily.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.
