Egypt's Al-Azhar: Zionist storming of Aqsa Mosque terrorist act that occurred amid global silence

CAIRO - 5 April 2023: Egypt's Al-Azhar, the 1083-year-old seat of Sunni Muslim learning, condemned with the strongest terms the Israeli forces' storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday as a "terrorist act" that comes amid global silence.

In a statement, Al-Azhar stressed that the "Zionist" storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Muslims' first qibla and the third holiest mosque of Islam, and assaulting worshippers is a "repeated terrorist incident occuring amid global silence and an international community boasting about international conventions to protect places of worship, which are mere ink on paper".

Al-Azhar deplored the repetition of such "barbaric crimes" by the Zionist terrorist entity and the continual of its criminal series of desecration of Islamic sanctities and its miserable attempts to evacuate Al-Aqsa Mosque from its people.

Al-Azhar also denounced the Israeli attempts to impose a political fait accompli using weapons and to change the historical identity of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

"History is the best witness to the bloody behavior of the Zionists and living conscience rejects, detests, and despises their terrorism," Al-Azhar added.

"History will not overlook the Zionist entity, its supporters, or those who remain silent about its crimes," the statement added.

Israeli occupation forces stormed the Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan prayers early today, injuring scores of Palestinians.

The Israeli forces fired stun grenades at Palestinian youths in Al-Aqsa Mosque and arrested more than 400 worshippers during its assault, 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.