TEHRAN – Iran has strongly condemned the occupying regime of Israel’s desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the holy occupied city of Al-Quds.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh hit out at “racist Zionists” after thousands of them stormed the compound and attacked Palestinian worshipers with chants of “Death to Arabs” on Sunday.
The spokesman also praised the Palestinian people and Al-Quds defenders for their steadfastness and resistance in the face of the invasion, warning the Zionist regime against “new adventurism and provocative measures”.
On Sunday, extremist settlers rampaged through the heart of the main Palestinian thoroughfare in East Al-Quds’ Old City to mark their annual March of the Flag which celebrates Israel’s occupation of Al-Quds.
Zionist troops tagged by to provide maximum protection as zealots forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, performing religious rituals mixed with provocative dance in breach of an agreement that prohibits non-Muslim prayers at the site.
The annual parade is tinged with violence against Palestinians and features “display of incitement, Jewish dominance, and racism,” according to Israeli NGO Ir Amim.
Khatibzadeh stressed that the cause of liberation of Al-Quds from Israeli occupation and aggression remains the Muslim world’s “first priority”.
“All of the world’s freedom-seeking people, especially the Muslim people and countries, are duty-bound
to act in a united manner towards an all-out defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque and confronting the Zionist apartheid regime,” he said.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 145 Palestinians were injured in Sunday clashes with Zionist forces and extremist settlers throughout the West Bank and East al-Quds. At least 18 of those wounded were targeted by live Israeli fire, the body added.
Khatibzadeh expressed hope that the regional Axis of Resistance will not fall short in defending Al-Aqsa Mosque and confronting “the bogus Israeli regime’s terrorist measures”.
He also called on international authorities and organizations to act upon their legal duty to prevent the “Zionist occupiers’ attacks on the defenseless Palestinian people”.