The Office of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which resulted in the injury, suppression and arrest of hundreds of Palestinian worshipers, as well as damage to the Al-Qibli prayer hall.
“This violence is egregious at a time when religious sensitivity is increasing, especially with the celebration of Ramadan and Easter,” the office said in a statement.
It added, “Israel’s illegal policies and practices continue to consolidate its illegal occupation of the Palestinian land it has occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. Add to that the severe isolation imposed on the Gaza Strip, which has been under siege for nearly 16 years.”
“Since the beginning of 2023, Israel has increased its military operations inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, killing at least 95 Palestinians, including 17 children,” the statement added, calling for accountability for all these violations.
The office reiterated its calls for respect for international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including humanitarian law and human rights law, saying that “Israel must comply with its international legal obligations in accordance with United Nations resolutions.”
The office renewed its calls to respect the historical status quo of the holy places, to respect the sanctity of all places of worship, and to stop the provocations by the Israeli forces and the incitement of extremist Israeli settlers in and around those places.
It called for respecting the freedom of all worshipers to access religious places in accordance with the applicable standards.
The office said that it “believes that a just and lasting peace will only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation and realising the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the Palestinian refugees.”
Over the past two days; The Israeli occupation forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem, and assaulted the worshipers with stun grenades, poison gas and rubber bullets.
