FOA condemns Israel’s raid, assault of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque
London (QNN)- Friends of Al-Aqsa (FOA) condemned on Sunday Israeli forces raid of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque and aggressive assault against Palestinian worshipers.
In a statement issued on what is happening in occupied Jerusalem, particularly Al-Aqsa mosque, FOA’s Chair Ismail Patel said, “The two brutal attacks on Masjid Al-Aqsa in the last 48 hours, including attacks on unarmed Palestinians worshippers and the storming of over 500 Israeli settlers, are inhumane.”
Patel added, “They are part of the ongoing illegal occupation and apartheid policies of the state of Israel.”
“If worshippers, journalists, medics and others had been brutally attacked at any other of the world’s holiest sites, the world would be in an uproar” noted Patel.
FOA, which is a UK based campaigning organization concerned with defending the human rights of Palestinians and protecting the sacred al-Aqsa Sanctuary in Jerusalem, has also called “for sanctions to be imposed on Israel.”
“We also request individuals boycott all Israeli products and goods. NGOs and civil societies should lobby their respective governments to hold Israel to account.”
Earlier today, at around 7am local time, Israeli occupation forces raided the Al-Aqsa mosque, for the second time in less than 48 hours, brutally attacked and blockaded hundreds of Muslim worshipers inside prayer halls and arrested others in order to empty the holy site of its worshipers to secure the entry of the settlers to mark the so-called Passover holiday.
BREAKING | Injuries have been reported in a fresh Israeli onslaught on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied #Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/lwyrjmOAUt
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022
The forces also fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters intensively towards the worshipers.
The forces also severely beat them, including children, women, youths, and activists.
Israeli soldiers terrorize a defenseless father and his son as extremist Jewish settlers break into Al Aqsa Mosque compound. pic.twitter.com/bSHdMgch4d
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022
The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed at least 19 Palestinian worshipers were injured during the Israeli forces’ assault, 5 of them were rushed to a hopsital. The Red Crescent also noted the forces prevented its crew from entering the holy site to evacuate the injuries.
Photos | Worshipers wounded by the Israeli raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied #Jerusalem are being evacuated to hospital. pic.twitter.com/UkfjjG7Lcg
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022
Medics evacuate a worshiper hurt during the brutal Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque earlier today. pic.twitter.com/kuT4fKxECS
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2022
The forces arrested 9 Palestinians during their raid of the mosque, according to local sources.
The Israeli forces also trapped worshipers inside al-Qibli mosque building in the south region of the mosque.
This is the second raid and aggressive assault to be launched by the Israeli occupation forces in less than 48 hours against the holy site and its worshipers.
Earlier on Friday, the forces broke into the holy site and brutally attacked the worshipers who gathered to perform the Al-Fajr prayer on the second Friday of Ramadan, injuring around 153 and arresting 400.
There had been calls by extremist Jewish groups to storm the compound this week in large numbers starting Sunday to mark the Passover and to perform a Passover sacrifice, in violation of the status quo agreements on religious practice at the site.
