Turkish officials strongly criticized Israeli violence against innocent Palestinians and called on world powers to act to stop the aggression
Turkish officials Monday urged global powers to speak up and take action against Israeli violence targeting peaceful Palestinians in Jerusalem, underlining that Turkey will strive to take initiatives in this regard. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told Daily Sabah that Turkey will intensify diplomacy for Palestine with members of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), bring Israeli attacks to the table in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting and will also hold meetings with world leaders and members of the UNSC.
"We condemn Israel's continued intervention in #AlAqsaMosque with sound bombs and force, and we expect these attacks to end as soon as possible," Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said in statement.
"The only way to prevent this and similar events in the occupied territories is to hold #Israel responsible for these actions in the international area."
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also pledged to defend the rights of the Palestinian people against Israeli violence in Jerusalem.
"Israel's violence in Al-Aqsa Mosque against innocent people does not end," Çavuşoğlu said on Twitter, adding that those who do not speak up against the violence should not discuss peace in the Middle East.
He expressed Turkey's solidarity with the Palestinian people, saying it "will continue to be the voice of our Palestinian brothers and sisters and defend their rights!"
Later on the same day, the Turkish Parliament also condemned Israeli attacks against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in a statement signed by all political parties in the assembly.
Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun called on all countries to take action against Israel.
"To the Islamic world, we say: It’s time to stop Israel’s heinous and cruel attacks! To humanity, we say: It’s time to put this apartheid state in its place!" Altun said, adding that it was a humanitarian obligation to do so.
He continued by saying that Turkey will continue to fight the oppressive system even if it is left alone.
"Turkey has had a strong fight against this tyrannical order so far under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan," he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın also urged Israel to stop attacking Palestinians in Jerusalem and prevent occupiers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as he called on world powers to take action to end Israeli aggression.
In a separate tweet, Kalın also said Turkey has been taking initiatives at all levels to stop Israeli aggression.
"Israeli authorities are responsible for all types of attacks, violence and incidents against Palestinians," Kalın said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kıran also criticized Israel, declaring that Turkey calls on the Israeli police to immediately end its blockade on the Al-Aqsa mosque and stop violence against innocent Palestinians.
"The international community should say stop to the Israeli state's and extremist groups' reckless and irresponsible practices," Kıran said on Twitter.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik noted that Israeli aggression against Palestinians has been increasing as he warned "fanatics" are preparing for an occupation outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"This is oppression and reckless lawlessness. The world must say stop," Çelik said.
He continued by saying that "fanatics" who speak of occupying Al-Aqsa and taking over Jerusalem have been carrying out all sorts of inhumane acts and calls for restraint will only encourage them to pursue their goals. He also said such calls cover up the truth that the other side is the victim.
Calling Israel a "terror state," AK Party Group Deputy Chairperson Numan Kurtulmuş said it does not only occupy Al-Aqsa Mosque but also "slaughters humanity." He continued by criticizing the global community's silence, saying that international institutions should mobilize and take action to stop the violence.
CHP urges Israel to stop attacks
The opposition in Turkey also joined the calls against Israel's oppression. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairperson Seyit Torun criticized Israeli aggression, saying that this is unfortunately not the first time Palestinians are subject to such violence.
He highlighted the necessity of taking necessary initiatives to immediately solve the problem.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had criticized Israel on Saturday, saying that Israel carries out such attacks each year during Ramadan.
"We strongly condemn Israel's heinous attacks against our first qibla Al-Aqsa Mosque, that are unfortunately being carried out every Ramadan," Erdoğan said on Twitter.
"As Turkey, we will continue to stand by our Palestinian brothers and sisters in all circumstances," he added.
"Cruel Israel, terror state of Israel, has been violently and immorally attacking the Muslims in Jerusalem, who dream of nothing but protecting all the things they deem sacred, the homes they have inherited [from their families] for thousands of years, their lands," he also said.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in support of Palestinians on Sunday evening outside Israel's consulate in Istanbul.
Prayers will be performed in all mosques across Turkey for the salvation of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem after the noon prayer, the head of Turkey's top religious body also said Monday.
Speaking to reporters in northwestern Sakarya province, Ali Erbaş said sala prayers will be recited across the country as well.
Sala prayers are traditionally recited to announce a funeral, however, during the Ottoman era they were recited to announce difficult times during wars.
Condemning the attacks in the Old City of Jerusalem, Erbaş said, "The occupying terrorist state Israel is up to the ugliest attempt against Al-Aqsa Mosque."
He added: "There is a genocide being conducted against innocent Palestinian people in front of the all the world's eyes." He also said prayers will be made against the oppression of the cruel.
Some nongovernmental organizations in the capital Ankara also released a joint statement on Monday and accused Israel of being a terror state run by an apartheid regime under the leadership of Zionist gangs.
They said that Israel's attitude targeting those who oppose this terrorism and Zionist ideology has not changed since its foundation.
Al-Aqsa Mosque's director pleads for help
Turkish officials' remarks matched those of the Al-Aqsa Mosque's director, who called for help from the Islamic world through Haram al-Sharif's speakers amid Israeli police incursion.
Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani said the Al-Aqsa Mosque is coming under Israeli attack.
"Extremist Jews will not enter Haram al-Sharif (the main building of Al-Aqsa) before trampling on our bodies," he stressed.
Stating that the Israeli police violated the sanctity of Haram al-Sharif, he addressed the Islamic world, "Where is your honor?"
Israeli police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Palestinian worshippers in their raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque late Friday.
The attack on Islam's third holiest site and around East Jerusalem, which injured over 200 Palestinians and 17 police officers over the weekend, came amid mounting anger over the planned evictions.
Tensions in Jerusalem have soared in recent weeks as Palestinians have protested against Israel's restrictions on access to parts of the Old City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and after authorities ordered several Palestinian families to leave their homes to make way for Israeli settlers.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.