Dr. Shaheem: Whole Muslim Ummah must stand up in defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Former Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has stated that the whole Muslim Ummah must stand up in defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

His remarks come at a time Israeli police forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem before dawn on Friday, as thousands of worshippers were gathered at the mosque for early morning prayers. Over 150 Palestinian worshippers were injured in the violence which ensued – that had also resulted in significant damage to the mosque.

Condemning the terror attack by Israeli police forces at Al-Aqsa Mosque – Shaheem said that the whole Muslim Ummah must stand up in defense of the holy site.

He also stressed that Israel’s actions are in direct violation of international laws and treaties.

Israeli police said that they entered the mosque to break up a “violent” crowd that remained at the end of the morning prayers.

They said they went in “to disperse and push back” the crowd after a group of Palestinians began throwing rocks toward the nearby Jewish prayer space of the Western Wall.

However, Palestinian news outlets report that Israeli police stormed the mosque compound without pretext and assaulted worshippers following the morning prayer.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. It has been a major flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian violence for decades.