Syria Condemns Israeli Settlers' Repeated Incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly denounced Israeli settlers' repeated incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds, condemning the international community's silence on the issue.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry stated that such attacks represent a violation of the historical and legal identity of the sacred site.
It added that "the international community must assume its moral responsibilities and pressure Israel into cessation of these practices and attacks, which demonstrate the racist and terrorist nature of the Zionist regime."
Israeli settlers forced their way into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday, with Israeli police reportedly escorting them into the site. The Israeli police prevented Palestinians under the age of 50 from entering al-Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers. Palestinians performed the morning prayer on the streets leading to the mosque after being prevented from entering the courtyard.
Last week, Israeli forces conducted consecutive raids at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which triggered rocket attacks from Gaza, southern Lebanon and Syria
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a sacred site for both Muslims and Jews. The Jewish visitation of al-Aqsa is permitted, but non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited under a decades-old agreement between Jordan, the custodian of Islamic and Christian sites in al-Quds, and Israel in the wake of Israel's occupation of East al-Quds in 1967.