Muslim Council of Elders Condemns Incursion at Al-Aqsa Mosque

The organisation has issued a forthright statement rejecting actions it describes as provocative and contrary to international law, whilst calling for accountability and respect for the site's historic status.

The Muslim Council of Elders has issued a strong condemnation of recent events at Al-Aqsa Mosque, wherein Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and groups of settlers accessed the courtyards under Israeli police protection.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Council reiterated its unequivocal rejection of what it characterises as provocative and extremist conduct. The organisation asserts that such actions represent a violation of international law and established conventions governing the protection of sacred sites.

The Council has called for an immediate cessation of repeated incursions and inflammatory rhetoric designed to incite hostility and violence. It has further urged that those responsible be held to account through appropriate mechanisms.

Central to the Council’s position is an emphasis on preserving the historic and legal status quo governing Al-Aqsa Mosque. The statement underscores the paramount importance of safeguarding holy sites and terminating ongoing violations of their protected status.

The organisation has appealed to the international community to fulfil its responsibilities by implementing substantive measures to curtail the documented violations. The Council advocates for meaningful progress towards a just and comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian question, with the aim of alleviating the protracted suffering of the Palestinian people, a situation that has persisted across more than seven decades.

The statement emphasises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem serving as its capital.

Source: WAM