Saudi Arabia condemns the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and demands an end to the violations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by a number of Israeli government officials, accompanied and protected by Israeli occupation forces. This condemnation reaffirms Saudi Arabia's unwavering and steadfast position in support of the Palestinian cause and its rejection of any infringement upon Islamic holy sites.
Details of the Saudi position on the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its categorical and complete rejection of Israel's continued blatant violations of international laws and norms. It considered the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque a grave transgression against the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and a blatant provocation of the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide. Saudi diplomacy stressed that these repeated practices undermine peace efforts and exacerbate tensions in the region, warning of the dire consequences of the occupying government's continued provocative policies, which disregard all relevant UN resolutions.
The historical context and legal status of holy sites in Jerusalem
To understand the gravity of these events, one must consider the historical context of occupied Jerusalem. Since the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Al-Aqsa Mosque has been subject to the historical and legal status quo, which stipulates that the Islamic Waqf is the sole authority responsible for managing the mosque's affairs and that prayer there is restricted to Muslims. However, in recent years, attempts to alter this reality have escalated through repeated incursions by settlers and extremist officials. These systematic steps aim to impose a temporal and spatial division of the mosque, a move categorically rejected by Arab and Islamic states, most notably Saudi Arabia, which emphasizes the necessity of respecting the Hashemite custodianship of the holy sites.
Regional and international repercussions of Israeli violations
The effects of these violations are not limited to the Palestinian territories alone, but extend to include wide-ranging regional and international repercussions. Regionally, these provocations fuel popular anger in the Arab and Muslim world, threatening the fragile stability of the Middle East and hindering any diplomatic initiatives aimed at reviving a comprehensive and just peace process. Internationally, the world's silence regarding these transgressions undermines the credibility of international institutions and human rights laws. Therefore, Saudi Arabia is always keen to mobilize global public opinion and unify Arab and Muslim ranks to confront these challenges, emphasizing that regional stability begins with finding a just solution to the Palestinian question.
A clear call to assume international responsibilities
In closing, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated its urgent demand that the international community, particularly the Security Council, fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities to halt all Israeli violations and transgressions against the defenseless Palestinian people. It stressed the importance of providing international protection for civilians and holy and historical sites in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Kingdom also called for holding the Israeli occupation authorities accountable for their ongoing and heinous crimes and practices, affirming that lasting peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
