Hundreds of settlers backed by the Israeli military storm the al Aqsa Mosque, drawing condemnation from Muslim countries.
The settlers toured the compound and performed rituals there, which are considered sacrilegious to the site. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have separately condemned the move, describing it as a provocative act. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said Riyadh firmly stands by the Palestinian people and supports all efforts to end the occupation. Egypt also called on influential international parties to fulfill their responsibility to protect Palestinian holy sites and their legitimate rights. Under decades-long agreements, signed by Israel, non-Muslim worship at the Al-Aqsa Mosque is prohibited. The site, however, has seen almost daily incursions by Israeli settlers in recent weeks.