Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned Israeli police’s “blatant” attacks on worshipers inside the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, after viral video showed Israeli forces beating worshippers inside the mosque.
In a statement, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “is following with great concern the Israeli occupation forces’ storming of the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque, assaulting worshipers, and arresting a number of Palestinian citizens,” according to a report in Al Arabiya.
Since the incident, videos of the attack were shared widely on social media in the Arab world.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemns this blatant storming and expresses its rejection of these practices that undermine peace efforts and contradict international principles in respect of religious sanctities, reaffirming its firm position in supporting all efforts aimed at ending the occupation and reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause,” the statement added.
The incident sparked protests across the occupied West Bank. According to Al Arabiya, the Israeli military claimed they were responding to nine rockets that were fired from Gaza toward Israel after sirens blared in southern towns. Israeli police said in a statement that it was forced to enter the compound after masked agitators locked themselves inside the mosque with fireworks, sticks and stones.
Saudi Arabia does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel has sought in recent months to establish relations with Saudi Arabia as it did with the UAE and other Arab nations with the Abraham Accords.
