Turkey says any attack on al-Aqsa mosque is an assault on Turkish values

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey regards Al-Aqsa Mosque as one of its own sacred sites, stressing that “any violation directed against it is regarded as a violation of the values of our nation.” 

Fidan made the remarks on Wednesday during a press conference in the Jordanian capital, Amman, where he took part in the ministerial meeting on Jerusalem.

He described the meeting as “historic”, saying it addressed several regional issues, including developments in the Gulf, the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Palestinian issue.

Fidan said Turkey’s focus had not diverted from the Palestinian issue, Al-Aqsa Mosque, or the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. He said these issues had been dealt with in parallel “Because we know that if our attention is diverted to one issue, Israel will find it easier to carry out what it is doing in Gaza, at Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the Jerusalem issue and in the West Bank.”

He added that participants discussed the recent Israeli violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and ways to coordinate a joint response. They also exchanged views on concerns raised by Islamic countries and possible diplomatic steps that could be taken.

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