Palestinian foreign ministry says Israel exploiting war on Gaza to seize control of Al-Aqsa

Ramallah (QNN) – The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has accused the Israeli occupation’s government of exploiting the world’s focus on the Israeli war on Gaza to seize control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

“Israel exploits the preoccupation with the genocide war in Gaza Strip and imposes more Judaization measures against Al-Aqsa Mosque,” it said in a statement.

The foreign ministry strongly condemned the Israeli forces’ assault on Palestinian worshippers and preventing them from reaching the mosque for Friday prayers, as well as condemned the Israeli assault on journalists who were present at the scene.

Early Friday, Israeli police attacked Palestinians in Jerusalem after preventing them from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.

Witnesses said police fired stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinians.

Israeli settler militias in the West Bank have also increased attacks on Palestinians, a development that has been decried by the UN and a number of countries.