Egypt on Tuesday strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
In a statement issued by Foreign Ministry, Egypt said that this step represents both a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable provocation.
It serves as a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and undermines the historical and legal status quo in East Jerusalem.
Egypt affirmed its complete rejection of any practices that violate the sanctity of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.
It stressed that the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in its entirety, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that any attempts to impose a new reality are unacceptable.
Egypt also affirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem
Egypt expressed deep concern regarding continued restrictions imposed on worshippers entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and the curtailment of freedom of worship, which constitutes a grave violation of international law, fuels tensions, and threatens to ignite further conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Preserving the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
It called on respecting the historical and legal role of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, foremost among them the Hashemite custodianship in managing the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and regulating access to it in a manner that preserves its sanctity and maintains the status quo.
An advisor at the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic Studies, Abdel-Aleem Mohamed, stated that the current incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque cannot be separated from the broader context of a long-term strategy pursued by extremist religious and nationalist movements within Israel.
What is happening is part of a comprehensive project aimed at changing the status quo at the mosque and gaining complete control over it, he warned.
Mohamed explained that the rise of the extreme religious and nationalist right wing to power in Israel has strengthened the presence of what he described as a “religious myth” associated with rebuilding of temple.
In essence, this vision is based on the idea of demolishing Al-Aqsa Mosque and rebuilding what they call the “Third Temple,” which, he said, explains the escalating pace of incursions and measures on the ground.
