Iran, Muslim World League condemn Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque

TEHRAN, Sept 21: Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, calling for international accountability as the UN General Assembly convenes in New York this week.

In a statement, the ministry accused Israel of “genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity” in Gaza, citing mass casualties, starvation, and the detention of Palestinians. It also condemned recent Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The ministry called for immediate action to halt the violence and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The Muslim World League, an international nongovernmental organisation, also issued a statement strongly condemning the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. It denounced the “provocative practices” that it said inflame the feelings of Muslims worldwide.

The statements came after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa compound under heavy police protection and performed Jewish religious rituals there. Under a decades-old arrangement, the Al-Aqsa compound is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation, and non-Muslims may visit but not pray there.
Ben-Gvir had conducted a similar incursion on August 31.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, along with the Gulf Cooperation Councilhave condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on September 20, several agencies reported on September 21.

The visit, made on Yom Kippur and Ben-Gvir's 17th to the site since taking office in 2023, comes as Washington seeks to hold together a Gulf coalition behind its war with Iran and as Riyadh presses the US for security guarantees against Houthi and Iraqi militia attacks.

Ben-Gvir toured the courtyards under heavy police guard and performed rituals in the eastern part of the compound, which is administered by Jordan under a status quo that permits Jewish visits but not prayer. His July 23 visit, with more than 3,200 Israelis entering the site, drew a joint condemnation from the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Muslim states.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the kingdom rejected "provocative and inflammatory practices" by Israeli officials against Palestinians and Islamic and Christian holy sites, and called on the international community to halt violations of international law.

Jordan, which is custodian of the compound, condemned incursions by Israeli ministers, officials and settlers and the facilitation of access by Israeli police, saying Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its holy sites.

Qatar's foreign ministry said repeated incursions could raise tensions, undermine de-escalation efforts and threaten regional stability. Al-Aqsa is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, it said, and unilateral measures to change the historical and legal status quo are invalid under international law.�" AGENCIES