Jordan summons Israel diplomat as King Abdullah deplores violence at Al-Aqsa

Jordan summons Israel diplomat as King Abdullah deplores violence at Al-Aqsa
Jordan has summoned Israel's envoy in Amman in protest of the ongoing violence against Palestinians at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, as King Abdullah urged Tel Aviv to respect international law.
3 min read
10 May, 2021
Israeli forces are attacking Palestinian worshippers [Getty]
Jordan summoned Israel's envoy in Amman this weekend to protest violence against Palestinian worshippers at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

The kingdom's foreign ministry said on Sunday it summoned the Israeli charge d'affaires of the embassy in Amman as King Abdullah condemned violence on protesters.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Yousef Bataineh urged that Israeli attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem is a clear violation of international law.

Bataineh urged Israel to respect international law, warning that continued escalations will provoke consequences.

He also demanded the charge d'affaires to tell the Israeli government it has an obligation to adhere to international law as an occupying power and must stop the attacks on Jerusalemites, including the mass eviction of Palestinian communities living in Sheikh Jarrah.

Read also: 'Israeli settler car' hits Palestinian pedestrians near Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

This comes as King Abdullah called on Israel to halt violence in East Jerusalem and stop the eviction of Palestinians in a phone call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

He rejected of the Israeli authorities' attempts to alter the demographics in East Jerusalem by attempting to rid the occupied city of its native Palestinian population and urged Israel to respect international humanitarian law.

Also on Sunday, an aide to the Egyptian Foreign Minister met with Israel's ambassador to Cairo, emphasising its objections to the ongoing violence in the occupied city.

The aide requested the ambassador to pass the message to Israeli officials that they have a duty to protect Palestinian worshipers who should be allowed to pray safely and freely.

Israel has carried out a systematic campaign of harassment and intimidation of Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque - the third holiest site in Islam - since the start of the month of Ramadan.

Israeli forces prevented the call to prayer at the start of Ramadan and prevented worshippers from breaking their fast around the mosque compound.

It has led to the worst Israeli violence around Al-Aqsa for years, amplified by Israel attacking those protesting the eviction of Palestinian residents of nearby neighbourhood Sheikh Jarrah.

More than 200 people were wounded when Israeli riot police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound late on Friday, firing tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at worshippers as they gathered for the final days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Dozens of Israeli riot police entered the Al-Aqsa compound on Friday evening as thousands of Muslim worshippers were holding evening prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan.

The violence continued over the weekend.

On Monday morning, hundreds of Palestinian worshippers holding a sit-in protest sat Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque were injured after Israeli forces stormed the Muslim holy site, firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

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