Several Arab countries condemned the Israeli authorities' raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque and their assault on Palestinian worshippers during the night from Friday to Saturday. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the incursion into Al-Aqsa, emphasizing the necessity for the Israeli authorities to bear responsibility according to international law for providing the necessary protection for Palestinian civilians and their right to practice their religious rituals. The ministry also called for an end to any actions that violate the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the holy month of Ramadan, and the Arab-Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem and its holy sites, as well as actions that alter the existing historical and legal status.
The official spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, affirmed the complete rejection of any illegal actions targeting the legitimate and established rights of the Palestinian people, especially those related to the ongoing settlement policy in the Palestinian territories through the construction of new settlements or the expansion of existing ones, land confiscation, or the displacement of Palestinians. He stated that such actions represent a violation of international law, undermine the chances of reaching a two-state solution, and threaten the foundations of security and stability in the region. The spokesperson condemned the current efforts to displace Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, stating that those efforts violate international legitimacy resolutions and humanitarian international law and continue the policy of forced displacement against Palestinians.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed the Kingdom’s rejection of policies and measures regarding the evacuation of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem and the imposition of Israeli sovereignty over them. The ministry reiterated its condemnation of any unilateral actions and any violations of international legitimacy resolutions, as well as anything that could undermine peace process efforts to achieve security and stability in the region. The ministry reaffirmed its position alongside the Palestinian people and its support for all efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause, enabling the Palestinian people to establish their independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
In Kuwait, the Foreign Ministry expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli forces' incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyard and their targeting of the Palestinian people with sound bombs, gas, and rubber bullets. The ministry confirmed in a press statement that this incursion is a blatant challenge to the feelings of Muslims worldwide, international law, and the most basic human rights. It stated that "the provocations and actions of the Israeli occupation expose the Palestinian people to danger and herald a rise in violence, which requires rapid international action to put an end to these provocations and secure the rights and safety of the Palestinian people." The ministry held the Israeli authorities responsible for this serious escalation and its ensuing consequences.
The Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, stated on his Facebook page that the raid on the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the blatant violation of the sanctities of God through the assault on peaceful worshippers, in addition to the armed assault on peaceful demonstrations in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem and the displacement of its residents, represent "ruthless Zionist terrorism in the face of global shameful silence." He added that Al-Azhar, its scholars, and students stand fully in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people against the tyranny and oppression of the Zionist entity, praying that God preserves them and grants them victory, as they are the rightful owners of the land and the just cause.
