Israeli gov't ‘determined to inflame situation,’ Arab League says after Aqsa Mosque storming

CAIRO – 6 April 2023: Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Hossam Zaki stressed to CNN that the Israeli government is “determined to inflame the situation,” after its forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and injured worshippers on Wednesday.

Zaki added that he “doesn’t believe” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Wednesday remarks, in which he claimed that the government is committed to maintain the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in the occupied East Jerusalem and that police were “compelled to act to restore order”.

“I think it’s quite the opposite,” Zaki stressed, adding: “We do not believe any of those words. They do not need an excuse to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque”.

Zaki affirmed that such confrontations have been expected several weeks before the holy month of Ramadan.

The Arab League Council held an extraordinary meeting yesterday chaired by Egypt's Permanent Delegate to the Arab League Mohamed Mostafa Arfi, who stressed that Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain “disobedient” to Israel's attempts to divide or control it.

Arfi added that Israel is provoking the feelings of all Muslims around the world by its blatant violations.

The council categorically rejected all forms of Israeli violations against Islamic and Christian sanctities in an attempt to change the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa, the third holiest Islamic site.

The council held Israel responsible for the crimes and measures committed to hamper freedom of worshiping in the Islamic and Christian sacred sites, warning of the flagrant provocation of Muslims feelings.

The Israeli forces fired stun grenades at Palestinian youths in Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring many and arresting 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.

Egypt held Israel responsible for the “dangerous escalation” in the occupied Palestinian lands, stressing that such action by the Israeli forces violates all international laws and customs.

Israeli violence has been steadily rising since the return of 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.