SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraq on Friday condemned the Israeli forces for raiding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem and attacking Palestinians who were inside praying.
“Iraq expresses its strong condemnation of the violence witnessed in the Palestinian territories,” the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry called for the need to contain “these rapid and dangerous developments”, saying Iraq expresses its permanent bias towards the people of Palestine.
“The language of violence adopted by Israel predicts more tension and perpetuates an atmosphere of tension, which will only lead to an increase in escalation and aggravation without reaching any solution,” it added.
Israeli police attacked Palestinians as thousands were in the Al-Aqsa mosque for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Israel alleges that men carrying Palestinian and Hamas flags were in the compound with rocks and stones. Palestinian officials say over 150 Palestinians were wounded.
The Al-Aqsa compound sits atop the Old City plateau of East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, and is known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as Temple Mount.
