UNSC to to Hold Emergency Session on Israel’s Violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) announced that it will convene an emergency session on Thursday to discuss recent violence in Jerusalem where Israeli police raid the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In the early hours of Wednesday, Israeli police broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, forcefully removing hundreds of worshippers performing the ʿitikāf (seclusion for prayers) and tahajjud (night prayers) at the Muslim holy compound.

Thursday’s session will take place behind closed doors and was called by the United Arab Emirates — the Arab League’s representative on the council — and China.

It will be the fourth emergency session held by the Security Council on Israeli-Palestinian tensions since the establishment of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government just over three months ago. 

Videos have gone viral on social media showing the Israeli police breaking into the mosque, beating the worshipers with clubs and firing gas bombs and sound grenades inside the mosque.

Earlier today, the AL Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit condemned the Israeli attack, saying "these irresponsible acts in the holy places touch the religious feelings of millions of Muslims around the world, especially during the holy month of Ramadan."