Egypt condemns Israeli storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, violence at its compound

CAIRO – 15 April 2022: Egypt has condemned the Israeli forces storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the violent acts they committed against the Palestinians at its compound.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry called for self-restraint to fully protect the Muslim worshippers and allow them to perform their Islamic rituals in Al-Aqsa Mosque as a “a purely Islamic endowment for Muslims”.

The ministry also reiterated rejection of all forms of violence and incitement, including the calls for storming the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

The statement warned against the consequences of such acts on the stability and security of the Palestinian lands and the region.

More than 150 Palestinian people have been wounded during recent clashes with Israeli police at the mosque’s compound, as Israeli police have stormed the holy site.

On April 13, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry also condemned the escalating violence in Palestinian territories in the past days and the expansion of the Israeli military operations in a number of Palestinian cities and villages.

The ministry spokesman also condemned the excessive use of force against the Palestinians that left scores of them dead and injured.

In a press statement, Hafez reiterated categorical rejection of calls to storm Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

He necessitated containing these serious and escalating developments which could lead to more tension between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Egypt, which brokered a deal between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza last May, has reiterated the importance of resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Egypt has also warned against unilateral actions by the Israeli authorities on the Palestinian lands, including building settlements in the West Bank, expressing concerns that such acts may affect the desired two-state-solution to end the conflict.