TEHRAN - Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Majid Takht-Ravanchi has strongly condemned the latest bout of Zionist aggression against the al-Aqsa Mosque and warned the occupying regime of the consequences of its actions, stressing that the holy Muslim site must be protected under international law.

Takht-Ravanchi made the comment at a meeting of the UN Security Council, during which he criticized the 15-member body for its silence and inaction on the Zionist regime’s crimes against the Palestinian people, saying as long as the Security Council continues to be passive and silent about such crimes, the rights of the Palestinians will not be protected.

“The continuation of the Security Council’s current stance has only encouraged and emboldened the Zionist regime to perpetuate its occupation and crimes against the oppressed Palestinian people,” Takht-Ravanchi said.

Iran’s UN ambassador said the crimes of the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people are completely documented and undeniable, adding that they are considered war crimes under international law and the perpetrators must be brought to justice without further delay.

Stressing that the full recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is a prerequisite to the resolution of the conflict, Takht-Ravanchi called on the Security Council to hold Israel accountable through all legal means at its disposal.

Referring to the recent crimes of the Zionist regime in the occupied Palestinian territories, Takht-e Ravanchi said the situation there has worsened with the continuation of Israel’s racist policies and brutal crimes against the Palestinian people.

“The Zionist regime has committed its crimes before the eyes of the international community and knows very well that it will not face any consequences,” the Iranian diplomat noted.

Takht-e Ravanchi censured the recent Zionist attacks on al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadhan, saying any desecration of Muslim sanctities and hurting the feelings of Muslims around the world is disgusting and should not be tolerated.

“The current worrying trend must be tackled immediately and seriously. To prevent a catastrophe with far-reaching implications, the historical and legal status of this sacred place must be protected under international law,” he said.

“We call on the international community to take precautionary measures to protect al-Aqsa Mosque, including its cultural heritage, from attacks by Zionist occupying forces and extremist settlers,” he added.

Zionist forces have repeatedly attacked Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound site since early April, with the onset of the holy month of Ramadan which coincided with Jewish Passover.

 

OIC Condemns Zionist regime’s Acts of Aggression in al-Quds

 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has said the holy city of al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque are red lines of the Islamic Ummah and security will not be restored to the region without their liberation from the Zionist regime’s occupation.

The OIC said this in an extraordinary session in its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The organization called for joint efforts by all member states to defend al-Quds and its sanctities in the face of the Zionist occupiers and to support the Palestinian people against the brutal attacks by the Zionists.
The final communiqué of the meeting condemned the Zionist regime’s aggression against the Palestinian people, especially in al-Quds and the regime’s illegal actions in the city with the aim of dominating it and changing the historical and legal status of al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque.
The OIC statement noted that the Zionist regime is responsible for the consequences of the aggression and illegal activities of the occupiers.
The organization called for an immediate end to such dangerous and illegitimate acts.
More than 150 Palestinian worshipers were injured when Zionist forces stormed the compound in the holy occupied city of al-Quds’ Old City last week. The forces have kept up their violations on the flashpoint site besides cracking down on solidarity protests throughout the occupied West Bank.
The clashes in al-Quds had sparked fears of another armed conflict similar to an 11-day war last year between Israel and Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas.
Israel waged the war last May in response to Palestinian retaliation against violent raids on worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque and the regime’s plans to force a number of Palestinian families out of their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East al-Quds.