UN Secretary General Condemns Israeli Violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres denounced Israeli regime forces’ violence against the Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque's compound, stressing that places of worship should only be used for peaceful religious observances.
Guterres "is shocked and appalled by the images he saw this morning of the violence and beating by Israeli security forces inside the Al-Qibli Mosque in Jerusalem (al-Quds) at a time of the calendar which is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims," Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief’s spokesman, said at a news conference.
"This should be a time for peace and non-violence," he said.
Dujarric echoed a statement from UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland who called on political, religious and community leaders on all sides to reject incitement, inflammatory rhetoric and provocative actions.
The second attack took place against the site -- Islam's third-holiest, which is located in the Old City of the holy occupied city of al-Quds -- on Wednesday.
The Israeli regime's forces raided the site and tried to evacuate the Palestinian worshipers by firing stun grenades and rubber bullets. Worshipers threw objects at the Israeli troops in response.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least six people were injured in the fresh flare-up.
The Arab League has also categorically denounced the regime’s acts of aggression. It decried all attempts by Israel to change the historic and legal status of al-Aqsa.
The body urged the UN Security Council to take prompt action to end such acts of aggression.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has vowed retaliation for “terrorizing worshippers.”
The Islamic Jihad resistance movement, for its part, said the retaliatory rocket attacks following Israeli raids are just an initial warning message.