BKSAP DPR Strongly Condemns the Attack on the Al-Aqsa Complex by Israeli Settlers

JAKARTA - The Indonesian House of Representatives Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) strongly condemned the invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem by thousands of Israeli settlers on Thursday (23/7).

Chairman of the DPR RI BKSAP Syahrul Aidi Maazat said the action was a provocative act that had the potential to expand the escalation of the conflict, disrupt regional stability, and hinder various diplomatic efforts to achieve peace.

"The DPR RI BKSAP strongly condemns the invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex by thousands of Israeli settlers which took place under the protection of the Israeli security forces. This action is a form of provocation that hurts the feelings of Muslims around the world and has the potential to ignite a wider crisis in the Middle East," he said in a statement received in Jakarta, Friday.

Violating the Historical Status Quo

According to him, this action violates the historical status quo which is the basis for managing the holy Al-Aqsa area. Efforts to unilaterally change the regulation are contrary to international law and risk triggering interreligious conflict.

East Jerusalem, he added, still has the status of an occupied territory based on various United Nations (UN) resolutions. Therefore, efforts to change the status of the area are contrary to international humanitarian law.

On the other hand, he said the restrictions on Muslim pilgrims during the raid violated freedom of religion and worship as a fundamental right guaranteed in various international human rights instruments.

He said that the Al Aqsa raid this time was an international issue that required a firm response from the global community. Moreover, various UN resolutions have repeatedly emphasized the importance of protecting holy places in Jerusalem.

On this basis, the DPR RI BKSAP urges the international community, especially the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to immediately take concrete steps to stop repeated violations.

"The world must not be silent when the sanctity of places of worship is violated and when attempts to unilaterally change the legal status of occupied territories are carried out," he said as quoted by Antara.

Consistent in Supporting Palestinian Independence

He also emphasized that Indonesia would continue to fight for Palestinian independence, the protection of holy places, the enforcement of international law, and a peaceful settlement through parliamentary diplomacy.

Around 1,300 Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday morning (23/7) to commemorate the Jewish holiday, Tisha B'Av.

Through social media, the Jerusalem Governorate Authority said Israeli police increased the number of participants in each group entering the Al-Aqsa compound to about 150 people.

The authority also said that Israeli forces imposed strict restrictions on the entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem.

The Israeli forces, according to the statement, were deployed in large numbers in the courtyard of the mosque and prevented Palestinians from entering the complex to worship. Only a small number of Palestinians were able to reach the mosque to perform the morning prayer before the Israeli forces attacked a number of worshipers and other residents.