LETTERS: We remind Muslim leaders and nations to be on guard for a major assault by settlers and Zionist troops on Al-Aqsa mosque.
On Thursday, more than 600 Zionist settlers stormed Al-Aqsa mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
We anticipate that, with the recent assaults in Ramadan , this is a precursor for a bigger invasion.
The Jewish Zionist settlers are adamant to assert their false claims on Al-Aqsa. They are emboldened to take on a direct clash with worshippers in the mosque, from their experience in the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.
In 1994, the Israeli occupation authorities divided Ibrahimi Mosque between Muslims and Jews following the massacre committed by a Jewish settler which left 29 Palestinian worshippers dead and over 150 injured.
Recently, illegal Israeli settlers held a concert at the Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron yesterday to mark Passover, after occupation forces banned Palestinian worshippers from accessing the Muslim holy site.
We call all Muslims to prepare for a strong response to the settlers and the Zionist troops to protect Al-Aqsa.
This was a blatant encroachment on its sanctity and a provocative violation of Muslims' right to access their place of worship.
We firmly stand in protest against the intrusion of Al-Aqsa and call for OIC to act to stop the violation of the sanctity of the mosque.
Muslims must be aware of the Zionist plan for a major onslaught to force eviction of all worshippers and cordoning the mosque, under the pretext of security while facilitating the settlers to enter in the courtyard of the mosque.
This act of provocation will trigger a response from the worshippers and will be used to justify an attack by the Israel occupation troops.
We warn all Muslim leaders , that inaction will mean submitting to the Israeli aggression and the subsequent bloodshed will be the fault of all Muslim leaders for not protecting the mosque.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President, MAPIM (Malaysia Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times