ADDS REMARKS BY SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS; EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Burak Dag and Jeyhun Aliyev
ANKARA (AA) – Several senior Turkish officials condemned a raid on Friday by Israeli police on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
Vice President Fuat Oktay said Israel is committing "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity" in Palestinian territories.
"As the world turns a blind eye to this invasion and unlawfulness, it will continue its cruelty. I strongly condemn attacks on Masjid al-Aqsa, our first qibla, by Israel, which does not respect anything sacred. It should be stopped immediately," Oktay said on Twitter.
"Strongly condemning the attack this evening on al-Aqsa Mosque, our first Qibla. It is inhumane for Israel to target innocents praying during Holy Ramadan," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter, referring to the Muslim holy month.
"Will always stand by the just cause of the people of #Palestine," Cavusoglu added, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured in the Israeli raid.
Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop said on Twitter: "As in every Ramadan, we are witnessing days when Israel's violence and cruelty increased."
"The attack on the group of worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque tonight is clear state terror. Whoever sows violence and cruelty cannot reap peace and tranquility. I condemn the terror in #ALAqsa," he added.
Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin also condemned the raid in which Israeli security forces used stun grenades to disperse worshippers inside the mosque.
"We strongly condemn the Israeli police attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque with stun grenades," Kalin said on Twitter, urging Tel Aviv to cease such attacks.
"Israeli occupation forces, which don't respect any religious values during the holy month of Ramadan, must leave Al-Aqsa mosque immediately," he added.
Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also denounced the Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Altun said on Twitter that Turkey was monitoring Israel's policy of occupation and violence against Palestinians "with concern."
"It is unacceptable for Israel that attack our religious values. Today we strongly condemn the attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, our first Qibla, with stun grenades," he added.
National Education Minister Ziya Selcuk also condemned the police raid.
"It is unacceptable that the most sacred places are remembered by violence and worshippers are persecuted. I wish immediate recovery to the injured," he said in a Twitter post.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu joined the condemnation from Turkey.
"I strongly condemn the Israeli police attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque community. Our prayers are the same with our Palestinian brothers, our hearts are one!" he said on Twitter.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in a Twitter post condemned Israel's "heinous attack" on the congregation praying in the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Israeli police attempted to disperse worshippers inside the Haram al-Sharif area of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday evening, using stun grenades and gas bombs.
The number of injured rose to 178 in Israeli attacks at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Damascus gate of the Old City and Sheikh Jarrah district in East Jerusalem, the Palestinian Red Crescent said in a statement.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
