Alwaght- Muslims across the world have hold mass rallies in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine after Israeli regime forces on Friday barged inside the al-Aqsa Mosque and brutally assaulted the Palestinian worshippers.
In Turkey's most populous city of Istanbul, protesters converged outside the Israeli consulate early on Saturday, waving Palestinian flags and calling for the Arab and international support for al-Aqsa Mosque worshippers.
“We are living in a time when we witness all forms of oppression and terrorism. The Muslim world and oppressed peoples continue to pay heavy prices and suffer every day. Wherever we turn, a cry makes our hearts ache," Mehmet Yaroğlu, a senior member of the Anatolian Youth Association, said in a statement.
"As the steps to be taken are delayed, the plague grows on us. Our first qibla [al-Aqsa Mosque], whose surroundings are blessed, is desecrated every day as a result of raids carried out by the terrorist Israeli regime and Jewish occupiers. The dignity of all Muslims, not just our Palestinian brethren, is being trampled on. Muslim lands are bleeding every day," the statement added.
He further said that the al-Aqsa Mosque was facing a surge of attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, stressing that "all Israelis are complicit in any crime committed on the Palestinian soil."
Turkey-based Hamas official and political analyst, Talal Nassar, said the Israelis will not be given even an inch of the Palestinian land, and that the struggle for the full liberation of the occupied territories shall continue.
“We will never bow to Zionists. By the grace of God, we will liberate Palestinian lands. It should also be stated that we will glorify the blood of our martyrs. We defend al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque, and will never recognize Israel. We will continue our struggle until Palestine is free,” he asserted.
Jordanians protest near the Israeli embassy, denounce normalization
In the Jordanian capital of Amman, hundreds of people demonstrated near the Israeli embassy to show support for Palestinians.
Demonstrators chanted "No Zionism on the Jordanian soil!" and "The Jordanian people are against the normalization [of relations with Israel]!"
They strongly denounced Israel's brutal assault on Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday.
Israeli regime forces violently cracked down on demonstrations held by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Friday in solidarity with worshippers assaulted inside the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a national humanitarian organization, said in a statement that its medics attended to 344 injured people following Israeli forces' attacks in several cities on Friday.
It added that the Israeli army also targeted PRCS personnel and hindered their work in providing medical aid to the wounded Palestinians.
Iraq, resistance groups condemn Israeli raid on al-Aqsa Mosque
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry and anti-terror resistance groups also denounced the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and injury to dozens of Palestinians following the use of excessive force by Israeli forces.
“Iraq expresses its strong condemnation of the high rate of violence in Palestinian territories, the expansion of Israeli forces’ operations in Palestinian cities and villages, and the excessive use of violence against Palestinians which has resulted in fatalities, injuries, and dozens of arrests,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Iraq affirms its rejection of any incitement of violence and raids on holy sites, such as the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and stresses the need to immediately stop these dangerous acts. Iraq expresses its unwavering support for Palestinian people and their right to recover all ownership rights.”
Qais Khazali, the secretary-general of Iraq’s Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq resistance movement, in a statement on Friday night, called on all freedom-loving people in the Muslim world to confront Israeli aggression against al-Aqsa Mosque.
He said Iraqi resistance forces are fully prepared to do whatever is necessary to ensure the continuation of the Palestinian struggle until the usurping Israeli regime is annihilated.
Akram al-Kaabi, the secretary-general of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, said, “We reiterate our solid support to the oppressed Palestinian nation against Zionists and all Arab countries normalizing ties with the Israeli regime.”
Algeria urges UN to protect Palestinians against Israeli attacks
Algeria also condemned the attacks carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
A statement issued by the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed “the need to provide full protection for Muslim worshipers, and to allow them to perform rituals” at the site.
It also called on the international community, the UN Security Council, in particular, to “assume their responsibilities, put an end to the aggressive provocations, and ensure the protection of Palestinians and their holy sites.”
“Repeated violations against the Palestinian nation and the growing insecurity and instability across the Palestinian territories, reaffirm the urgent need to launch a serious peace process that would result in the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Arab lands and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital,” the statement noted.
Russia: Israel has turned Gaza Strip into a prison under open sky'
Russian Foreign Ministry slammed Israel's actions against Palestine on Friday, saying the Tel Aviv regime has turned Gaza into “a prison under the open sky.”
“As well-known, in violation of numerous decisions of the (UN) Security Council and the UN General Assembly, Israel continues illegal occupation and ‘creeping annexation’ of the Palestinian territories, as a result of which over 2.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley live in isolated enclaves cut off from the outside world,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The Gaza Strip has essentially become an ‘open-air prison,’ whose two million people have been forced to survive for almost 14 years under the conditions of the Israeli sea, air, and land blockade,” it added.
The ministry noted that Israel's course on maintaining the longest-lasting occupation after World War II is being implemented with the tacit consent of leading Western countries and open US support.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli siege since June 2007. The tight blockade has caused a decline in the standards of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
