The Arab League has strongly denounced the Israeli police’s raid on the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, stating that it endangers regional stability. In an emergency meeting after the incident, the League condemned the “crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against defenseless Muslim worshippers”. It warned that the pre-dawn raid could lead to a “spiral of violence that threatens security and stability in the region and the world.” Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned the raid, saying that the “extremist approaches that control the policy of the Israeli government will lead to widespread confrontations with the Palestinians if they are not put to an end.”
Meanwhile, Israeli police entered Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second time on Wednesday, attempting to evacuate worshippers and leading to clashes with Palestinians. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported six injuries, while police claimed that young people brought rocks and firecrackers into the mosque. The situation follows a 10-day war between Gaza and Israel in 2021 after violence erupted at Al-Aqsa mosque.
There have been calls for easing tensions following the Israeli police raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Arab League has strongly condemned the raid, stating that it risks igniting violence and threatens security and stability in the region and the world. Meanwhile, the White House has voiced concern about the violence at the mosque and emphasized the importance of Israelis and Palestinians de-escalating tensions. The situation has led to an increase in violence at the Gaza border, with Israeli authorities reporting at least nine rockets fired from Gaza into Israel and retaliatory air strikes on weapon production sites in Gaza.
The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, urged leaders on all sides to act responsibly and avoid escalating tensions. The UAE and China have requested a closed-door discussion of the situation by the 15-member UN Security Council. The UAE’s foreign ministry stated that worshippers should not use weapons and explosives to barricade themselves inside the mosque and other places of worship. Jordan and Egypt, as well as Turkey, have condemned the incident, and Saudi Arabia, with which Israel hopes to normalize ties, has criticized Israel’s actions at Al-Aqsa. The Palestinian foreign ministry called the incident an egregious assault on the basic right of Palestinians to worship freely. Thousands protested in Gaza, and in the West Bank town of Beit Ummar, Palestinian protesters burned tires and threw rocks and explosive devices at Israeli soldiers. Far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a harsh response, stating that “Hamas rockets require more than blasting dunes and empty sites. It’s time to rip heads off in Gaza.”