Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, denounced on Sunday Israel’s attack on worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.
He claimed on Twitter that he had conveyed to his Palestinian colleague Mahmoud Abbas his strong opposition to Israel’s seizure of the mosque and threats to its legal standing.
He added, “During our conversation, I expressed to Mr. Abbas my strong condemnation of Israel’s intrusions against the worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque and our determination to resist these provocations and threats against the status quo and spirituality of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Turkish leader expressed his condolences to the families of those slain in Israeli attacks and asked Allah for mercy for the injured.
“The events remind us of the necessity for all Palestinian groups to work towards unity and reconciliation,” Erdogan said, reiterating Turkiye’s support for Palestine.
More than 700 Israeli Jewish residents broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday while being heavily guarded by police to observe the week-long Jewish Passover holiday.
The Jewish holiday season began on Friday when Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims, causing at least 150 fatalities among Muslim worshipers.
Since Israel’s 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is situated, the Palestinian population of the holy city has been subjected to various forms of suffering.
