Turkey condemns Israeli forced entry into Al‑Aqsa Mosque

Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned “in the harshest terms” the forced entry of Israeli settlers into the Al‑Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, an operation led by an Israeli minister and accompanied by extremist groups under the protection of Israeli security forces. The ministry called for the international community to prevent such provocative actions that violate the historic and legal status of the holy site. More than 3,200 Israeli settlers entered the compound during the Tisha B’Av holiday, with videos showing collective prayers, the Israeli flag, and the national anthem being performed inside the precincts. Israeli police permitted the numbers to increase, while restrictions were imposed on the mosque’s entrances and the Old City’s surrounding areas. Turkey’s statement reaffirmed its concern over attempts to alter the status of Al‑Aqsa and urged adherence to longstanding protections for the site.