Arab Ministers to Discuss How to Counter Israel’s Attacks on Al Aqsa

Rabat – Arab ministers are meeting on Thursday in Jordan’s capital Amman, to discuss how to counter Israel’s attacks on Al Aqsa mosque.

Over the past week, Israel has carried out numerous attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, disrupting prayers and injuring worshippers.

Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, as well as representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria, and others are taking part in the meeting.

The meeting will explore de-escalation possibilities for the ongoing conflict, and call for international action to combat violence against Palestinians, and the desecration of holy sites for Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem.

Palestinians reported a new raid on the mosque on Thursday morning, with tens of worshippers injured. Some showed signs of suffocation and injuries from bullets, according to Palestinian News Agency Wafa.

Israeli forces also used stun grenades and mobilized soldiers to empty the mosque’s yards of worshippers, before allowing Jewish Israeli settlers to take the space for themselves instead.

The last few weeks have seen escalated tensions and violence in Palestine, which culminated over the past week as Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa mosque five days in a row, including Thursday.

Witnesses in the mosque reported that Israeli forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to force worshippers out, which left hundreds injured over the past week, in addition to hundreds being arrested by Israel.

The raids drew condemnation from Arab leaders and human rights organizations, who described the attacks as violations of established agreements and international law.

Critics also called on Israel to respect the sanctity of the mosque for Muslims, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, decrying the state’s repeated efforts to let Jewish settlers tour the mosque and pray in it.

Israel has maintained claims of violent actions inside the mosque as a pretense for the interventions, but Palestinian witnesses say the attacks were unprovoked by any sort of unruly behavior.

Israeli warplanes also launched an attack on the Gaza strip earlier this week, in a repeat of last year’s Gaza assault that was also initially triggered by violence in Al-Aqsa.

No casualties or injuries were reported in Gaza.