KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia strongly condemns the incursion and attacks by the Israeli occupation forces as well as Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and those praying in the Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the Israeli government must be held responsible and accountable for its continued violation of human rights and international law.
In a statement today, he said such heinous acts must be strongly denounced, adding that Malaysia will continue to stand in strong solidarity with the people of Palestine in the wake of the Israeli aggressions.
"The targeted aggression against the worshippers during prayers in the final days of Holy Ramadan in Al-Aqsa Mosque is indeed contemptuous to all Muslims and humanity.
"Many Palestinians have been injured in the attacks.
"Malaysia calls upon the international community to act swiftly and decisively to respond to the latest Israeli aggression," he said.
It was reported that at least 160 people were wounded after Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinians at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound late Friday.
This is the latest aggression by the Zionist regime after a series of violent acts in the Holy City and the occupied West Bank in recent weeks.
Hishammuddin also reiterated Malaysia's stance to condemn all forced evictions of Palestinians from their homes, including those in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.
"Malaysia reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinians and their cause for achieving freedom from the Israeli illegal occupation, and realising their aspiration for an independent State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as their capital."
According to reports, Friday's unrest came on Al-Quds Day (the Arabic name for Jerusalem), an annual day of pro-Palestinian rallies held by Iran, the arch-enemy of Israel, which also saw many thousands march in majority-Muslim countries across the region and as far as Pakistan.
The clashes erupted as Muslims packed the Al-Aqsa compound to pray on the last Friday of Ramadan.