GCC Secretary General Condemns the Israeli Escalation in Al Quds and the Occupation Soldiers’ Continued Incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque

His Excellency Mr. Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned the Israeli escalation in Al Quds and the occupation soldiers’ continued violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque in addition to their lack of respect for the holy month of Ramadan.

His Excellency said that the continued incursions and shootings by the Israeli occupation forces in Al Aqsa Mosque are a violation of the sanctities of holy sites and aggression against the first qiblah of Muslims through harassing worshipers in these blessed days, assaulting those in i’tikaaf and expelling them by force of arms as well as closing the Ibrahimi Mosque.

His Excellency the Secretary General termed such acts as a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world, an assault on the legal status of holy places, a violation of historically agreed status quo arrangements, as well as a serious breach of international law and United Nations resolutions in this regard.

Besides, His Excellency stressed that the ongoing brutal abuses and attacks on sanctities in the occupied Palestinian territories are an alarming turning point, adding that the Israeli government bears all the responsibilities and consequences that would inflame the situation and fuel discord and hatred.

Moreover, His Excellency the Secretary General said that all statements issued by the Supreme Council of the GCC confirm the firm positions of the Council’s countries regarding the Palestinian cause and the sanctity of holy places, the latest of which is the statement issued by the 43rd session of the Supreme Council of GCC, which emphasised the centrality of the Palestinian cause and underlined its support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all the occupied Palestinian territories since June 1967, and backed the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Al Quds as its capital and protecting the rights of refugees in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy.

Furthermore, His Excellency called on the international community to intervene to end the crisis, take practical steps towards protecting Palestinian civilians and stopping targeting the Palestinian presence in the city of Al Quds, in addition to the Israeli attempts to change the city’s legal character, demographic composition, and arrangements for Islamic holy places.