Saudi Arabia Condemns Al-Aqsa Incursions and Rejects Israeli Expansion in Lebanon and Gaza

Riyadh - Afaq News - Saudi Arabia condemned today, Monday, the incursions of Israeli officials and settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, and rejected "any Israeli expansionist attempt" in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that the Kingdom condemns and denounces "in the strongest terms the continued provocations by Israeli occupation officials and a group of extremist settlers against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the assault on its sanctity and religious and historical status under the protection of occupation forces."

The ministry reiterated its rejection of these violations, affirming that they "constitute a violation of international law and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world."

Earlier today, Monday, 1,731 Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied East Jerusalem, in ongoing violations for the second day, claiming to celebrate the "Jewish Feast of Tabernacles," according to a statement from the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque and boasted about it, according to a video distributed by his office.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is witnessing an escalation in incursions by settlers since the beginning of the Jewish holidays, amidst tight protection from Israeli forces and military measures in Jerusalem.

In a related context, Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli statements regarding the annexation of areas in southern Lebanon and areas extending to the 'blue line' in the Gaza Strip, affirming its rejection of any Israeli expansionist attempts.

It emphasized the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon continue, while Israel still occupies areas in the south, some of which have been under occupation for decades, and others that were seized during recent wars and military operations.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich incited to deprive Palestinians of hope for the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza Strip, in order to push them towards forced migration.

Smotrich stated in an interview with Israeli Channel 14 that if Israel annexes the area up to the 'yellow line', and Gaza remains 'small, crowded, and destroyed', its residents 'will understand that there is no point in staying there', as he put it.

The Israeli army is positioned along what is known as the 'yellow line', which is a security strip imposed by Israel inside the Gaza Strip, preventing Palestinians from approaching the surrounding areas, while controlling more than 70 percent of the area of the strip.

Since October 8, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, resulting in more than 74,000 martyrs and over 175,000 Palestinian injuries, most of whom are children and women, along with destruction affecting 90 percent of the infrastructure.