Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem by Israeli officials under the protection of Israeli forces.
A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom “continues to condemn the ongoing blatant Israeli violations of international law and the repeated heinous attacks on the mosque.”
It reiterated its “categorical rejection of all attempts to alter the historic and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.”
Saudi Arabia called on the international community “to hold the Israeli forces accountable for their dangerous and ongoing violations against Islamic sanctities and innocent civilians in the state of Palestine.”
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and hundreds of Israeli nationalists visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Monday where they performed “provocative” rituals at its squares amid heightened security measures.
Palestinian traders in Jerusalem's Old City returned to their shops on Tuesday to clean up a day after a march by Israeli nationalists that saw scuffles, insults and acts of vandalism.
Some had to use crowbars, hammers and wirecutters to regain access to their own shops after many were vandalized during the “Jerusalem Day” march the day before.
On Tuesday, metal shutters protecting the shopfronts bore the marks of the parade's passing, with padlocks blocked and stickers slapped upon them, AFP reported.
“No humanitarian aid for Gaza,” read one sticker from Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power).
