Palestine warns of 'religious war' over far-right Israeli minister's al-Aqsa visit
Palestine has strongly condemned the intrusion of Israel’s far-right minister into the al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of al-Quds, warning that the violation of international law, as well as the historical status quo of the site, could trigger a "religious war".
“We alarmingly call on the international community to act urgently and halt the impending explosion of the situation in the Palestinian territories, and the grave threats that Israeli crimes and violations pose to international peace and security,” it said in a statement on Wednesday, as quoted by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.
“Ben-Gvir is widely regarded as a fascist, who has repeatedly made provocative moves against Palestinians and the sacred al-Aqsa Mosque, and has frequently stoked violence and terror with his inflammatory remarks, hateful threats, and controversial actions,” the statement added.
The foreign ministry said the Palestinian leadership holds the occupying Israeli regime, and its politicians and officials, fully responsible for the repercussions of their continued illegal and provocative measures, which will have far-reaching consequences for regional and international peace and security.
“Israel’s continued acts of aggression at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound are meant to cause ... division so as to facilitate Jewish worship there and impose Israeli control over the holy site," it said in the statement.
We remind [the international community] that Israel has no rightful claim or sovereignty over al-Quds, including the Old City, its eastern sector, its walls, and its holy sites."
“All states and organizations must act urgently and collectively to condemn all Israeli acts of aggression, and demand an immediate halt to the practices against Palestinian people and their holy sites,” the statement noted.
Jordanian MPs call for expulsion of Israeli envoy
Moreover, a group of Jordanian lawmakers on Wednesday carried a motion urging the government to expel the Israeli ambassador to Amman to protest Israeli crimes against Palestinians and Ben-Gvir’s desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The legislators also urged Arab and international parliaments to immediately take action against Israeli violations and called for revoking the nation's peace treaty with Israel.
Israel's provocative practices and incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound are proof of its terrorism, extremism, and destructive measures that fuel regional conflict, Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Ahmed Safadi said.
He demanded a cessation of such provocative and unacceptable acts, which would further escalate tensions in the region and undermine prospects for a political solution and comprehensive peace.
Safadi reiterated that only Jordan has sovereignty over the holy sites in al-Quds.
Attempts to tamper with the status quo and Judaize al-Quds provoke the feelings of billions of Muslims and Christians worldwide; therefore, the international community must stand firmly against attempts to spark a religious conflict that can affect the region and the world, the top Jordanian lawmaker said.
Safadi finally underlined Muslims' and Christians' historical right to al-Quds.
Under a 2013 agreement signed between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, Jordanian King Abdullah II is the custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in al-Quds.
The Royal Hashemite Court pays the salaries of workers at the Muslim holy places.
Yemeni scholars condemn Ben-Gavir’s desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque
Meanwhile, the Yemen Scholars Association condemned Ben-Gavir’s visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, stressing that the Palestinian issue will remain the first and foremost issue of the Muslim world.
The association vehemently denounced Israeli killings, desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and other criminal acts, arguing that such practices are an absolute disgrace to the Arab countries that normalized relations with the occupying regime.
The scholars also called on freedom-loving Muslims to vigorously condemn the Tel Aviv regime and its allies, and spare no efforts in support of the Palestinian cause.
Hamas urges Muslim leaders to rise up, defend al-Aqsa Mosque
Additionally, the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement, Ismail Haniyeh, has called upon Muslim leaders to rise up and defend al-Aqsa Mosque against the dangerous plots of Israel’s most far-right cabinet in history.
Haniyeh called for immediate and effective measures to safeguard al-Aqsa Mosque and stop incursions and sinister plans of Israeli occupiers.
“We would like to notify you of an imminent danger threatening our holy sites in the Palestinian territories, most notably the al-Aqsa Mosque compound after the far-right Israeli administration took office and embarked on escalatory moves by allowing its national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to storm the revered site with religious and political purposes,” the Hamas leader said.
“This is a serious development that cannot be tolerated or accepted at all. It suggests the beginning of a new bout of violence across Palestinian lands, which will have direct impacts on the entire region,” Haniyeh stressed.
“We call upon you today to clearly and decisively declare your positions against the far-right policies of the Israeli regime, which has launched a new colonial campaign based on a Talmudic ideological vision that aims to obliterate our people’s rights, control their land, Judaize their holy sites and turn Aqsa Mosque into what they call a temple,” he stated.
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