Egypt holds Israel responsible for ‘dangerous escalation’ after forces stormed Aqsa Mosque

CAIRO – 5 April 2023: Egypt held Israel responsible for the “dangerous escalation” in the occupied Palestinian lands after Israeli police stormed into Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City early on Wednesday, leaving many people injured.

In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early today, “the Arab Republic of Egypt has condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli police storming of Al-Aqsa Al-Sharif Mosque and the blatant attacks that led to many injuries among worshipers and Muslims in seclusion (itikaf), including women”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that such action by the Israeli forces violates all international laws and customs.

Egypt warned that such “hateful and reprehensible scenes and repeated Israeli violations of the sanctity of the holy places fuel feelings of wrath among all the Palestinian people, Islamic peoples and people of living conscience worldwide.”

The Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli authorities to immediately halt these violations that intimidate worshippers “who have taken a safe stay in the house of God during the holy month of Ramadan.”

Egypt warned that this “dangerous escalation” by the Israeli forces can “undermine the de-escalation efforts that Egypt is engaged in along with its regional and international partners”.

Egypt also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in putting an end to these violations and sparing the region further instability and tension factors.

The Israeli forces fired stun grenades at Palestinian youths in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the sensitive holiday season of Ramadan, injuring dozens of worshippers, according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.

Also, Israeli forces arrested more than 400 worshippers during its assault on the mosque, WAFA cited the Commission of Detainees Affairs as saying.

The Israeli violations elicited a response from Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip, who fired missiles on southern Israel, prompting frequent Israeli airstrikes.

Israeli violence has been steadily rising since the return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to power with a new far-right government late last year. Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians over the past year in the occupied lands.

Netanyahu’s government portfolios are held by religious and urtlanationalist hard-liners, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, who serves as the national security minister and is notorious for his violent rhetoric and acts against Palestinians.