Maldives condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Birds fly over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem following an Israeli police raid overnight during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Maldivian government has strongly condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces.

The government issued the condemnation in a statement by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

“The Government of Maldives strongly condemns the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli forces on Tuesday night, and the attack on Palestinian worshipers, causing injury to worshipers and destruction to the mosque during this holy month of Ramadan,” said the Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Ministry said the actions by the Israeli forces are a blatant violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly.

“Such actions undermine efforts to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict and the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region,” said the Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Ministry said the government and the people of Maldives stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and assure firm support for their legitimate and just struggle to achieve a free, independent and sovereign State of Palestine.

Israeli police arrest a Palestinian woman at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound following a raid at the site in the Old City of Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Maldives reiterated its steadfast commitment to work closely with the international community to advocate for the cause of the Palestinians.

“A lasting, peaceful resolution of the conflict can only be realized through a two-state solution, with an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” said the Foreign Ministry.

Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa on Tuesday night detained over 500 Palestinian worshippers and removed over 1,000 more from the mosque.

People who were detained at the compound and later released said police used batons, chairs, rifles and whatever else they could find to strike Palestinians, including women and children, who responded by hurling stones and setting off firecrackers that they’d brought to evening prayers for fear of possible clashes.

The violence resumed for a second straight night on Wednesday, though it was less intense than the previous night.