OIC condemns continued Israeli escalation against Aqsa Mosque

CAIRO – 20 April 2022:  Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha dispatched similar letters to several international actors about the ongoing Israeli violation of Al Aqsa Mosque that included closure of the Mosque's gates and barbaric attacks against innocent worshipers.

The messages were addressed to the Secretary of State of the United States, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, France, and China, including the United Nations Secretary-General and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Taha asserted that this dangerous escalation of Israel's aggression against the al-Aqsa Mosque is an attack on the religious rights and sensibilities of the entire Islamic ummah.

He also described the escalation as a flagrant violation of the relevant international resolutions and instruments that may stoke religious war and violence in the region and beyond.

The Secretary-General also called on all the international actors to move swiftly under these critical circumstances, to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to guarantee the rights of Muslims to pray freely in the al-Aqsa Mosque, and to preserve the existing historical and legal status of the holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.

He reiterated the call on all actors to intensify international efforts to revive the political track that will end the Israeli occupation and bring about the establishment of the sovereign and the independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusale

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will head for Amman on Thursday to take part in an emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Committee for the International Action against Illegal Israeli Policies and Measures in Al-Quds.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said the meeting will tackle the latest developments in Palestinian territories and ways of deescalating the situation in and around Al Aqsa mosque.

The meeting will also underline the importance of ending all practices aiming at undermining Arab, Islamic and Christian identity of Al Quds

On April 14, Egypt's top Islamic authority, Al-Azhar, condemned deeply the Israeli attacks against Palestinians along with storming al Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Azhar also condemns what it described as the ‘international community shameful silent’ to these attacks

Al-Azhar extended its sincere condolences and sincere sympathy to the Palestinian people and the families of the martyrs, calling God to bless and forgive them. Al-Azhar also prayed to God to preserve Palestine, and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from any harm.

On April 13, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez strongly condemned the escalating violence in Palestinian territories in the past few days and the expansion of the Israeli military operations in a number of Palestinian cities and villages.

The 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.