UPDATE - Türkiye strongly condemns far-right Israeli minister's Al-Aqsa raid

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM TURKISH OFFICIALS; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye on Sunday strongly condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.

“We strongly condemn the storming of Al-Haram Al-Sharif on 21 May by the Israeli Minister of National Security under the protection of Israeli security forces in clear breach of the international law,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.

Ben-Gvir, a far-right figure known for his anti-Palestinian views, forced his way into the flashpoint site early Sunday under Israeli police protection.

In a video message from the Al-Aqsa courtyard, he claimed Israel’s ownership of the complex, saying “we own Jerusalem and all the land of Israel.”

Ankara called on Israel to “act responsibly, and to put an end to all kinds of provocative actions violating the historical status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif that is based on the international law.”

“It is in no way acceptable that Israeli Government members challenge the historical status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif in this manner and commit inflammatory and fascistic actions,” the Turkish ministry added.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay also condemned the move. In a tweet, he urged Israeli authorities to respect the legal status of Al-Aqsa and “to end these actions as soon as possible.”

Ibrahim Kalin, the Turkish presidential spokesman, slammed Ben-Gvir’s “provocative and unlawful act,” terming it “unacceptable.”

“We will continue to oppose all attempts to change the religious and legal status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex,” he said on Twitter.

This was the second time Ben-Gvir has entered the complex since becoming national security minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government last December.

He previously force his way into the site on Jan. 3, days after taking office, becoming the first serving Israeli minister to enter the mosque in five years.

Last November, Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned in a leaked audio that “the whole world is worried” about Ben-Gvir’s far-right views.

Since 2003, Israel has allowed settlers into the flashpoint compound almost on a daily basis with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world’s third-holiest site. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.