Jordan demands that Israel respect sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

TASS

BEIRUT, September 28. /TASS/. The government of Jordan urges the international community to compel Israel to stop its illegitimate actions regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the kingdom’s foreign ministry spokesman Fuad Majali said, commenting on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s "incursion" into the Islamic holy site.

"The step made by Minister Ben-Gvir under the protection of the Israeli police force constitutes an outrageous provocative act that violates the historical and legal status quo of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem," reads the statement, posted on the ministry’s X page.

"Jordan demands respect for the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and insists that all measures that restrict access for Muslim worshippers be cancelled," the ministry added.

The minister reiterated that the mosque and its premises of around 14.4 hectares "remain an exclusive place of worship for Muslims," while Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places is the legally mandated authority with exclusive jurisdiction over this site.

The Al-Mamlaka television channel reported that over 1,200 members of extremist organizations, led by Minister Ben-Gvir, broke into the mosque grounds on Monday morning to perform Talmudic rituals and prayers marking the Jewish holiday of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles).

Previously, Palestinian administration spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh held the Israeli government responsible "for violating the feelings of Muslim worshippers worldwide." He described the incident and the restrictive measures imposed on the Arab population as "a dangerous attempt to impose new realities on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.".

Fonte: TASS