Turkish defence ministry says Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa threaten regional stability

The Turkish Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that visits by extremist Israeli groups to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem were fuelling regional tensions and called on the international community to take measures against Israeli actions it said violate international law and international humanitarian law.

Ministry spokesperson Zeki Aktürk made the remarks during a weekly press conference held in the central Turkish province of Kayseri.

Aktürk reiterated Turkey’s opposition to the entry of extremist Israeli groups into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, saying that violations and provocations involving holy sites increase regional tensions and undermine efforts to achieve peace and stability.

He also accused Israel of causing the deaths of 74,000 Palestinians, including infants, children and women, and depriving Palestinians of their right to live with dignity.

OPINION: Turkish-Israeli rift grows irreversibly amid Israeli expansionism and aggression

Aktürk further accused Israel of continuing military attacks and settlement-related land seizures in the West Bank.

“We reaffirm the importance of the global conscience acting to end what is happening in Palestine, and we renew our call for the international community to take deterrent measures against Israeli attacks that violate international law and international humanitarian law,” he said.

Separately, Palestinian sources reported that approximately 800 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday under Israeli police escort.

OPINION: Türkiye’s message to the Middle East: Security requires peace