File Photo: Egypt s parliament during a session. Al-Ahram
"The storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli police and their attacks against worshippers are a flagrant breach of all international laws and conventions," read a statement by the Egyptian parliament's Arab Affairs Committee, adding that "Israel's repeated assaults against Islamic holy sites only trigger reactions of fury and denunciation from Palestinians and Arab Islamic nations."
The statement called for an immediate halt to these "disgusting Israeli violations and aggressions," which aim to terrorise Palestinian worshippers and desecrate Islamic places of worship during the holy month of Ramadan.
It also held Israeli occupation forces responsible for the recent escalation against Palestinians, noting that these aggressive Israeli policies undermine efforts to broker a truce and reach a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The APU said the attack is a "new blatant form of condemned aggression" that fuels anger among Muslims and leads to a new cycle of violence.
The APU blamed the hardline Israeli government and extremist practices of Israeli settlers for the recent wave of violence against Palestinians and Islamic holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The statement called on international human rights organisations and the international community to extend protection to Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic holy sites.
Al-Azhar, the Islamic world's leading religious institution, strongly condemned the "bloody policies of Israeli Zionists and their desperate attempts to change the historical Arab and Islamic character of the honourable city of Jerusalem and the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Al-Azhar's statement read that history would never forgive the "inhuman, immoral, and bloody crimes of the Zionist Israelis, their supporters and those who remain silent in the face of these crimes."
Earlier on Wednesday, Egypt's foreign ministry condemned the attacks against worshippers, including women, as a "blatant" assault and violation of all international laws and norms.
It called on Israeli authorities to stop these attacks immediately and held the occupying power responsible for this dangerous escalation that could undermine truce efforts in which Egypt is engaged with its regional and international partners.
Several Arab countries, including Jordan -- which serves as the custodian of the mosque -- denounced the Israeli attacks, warning of the consequences of such assaults.
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