RAMALLAH, Saturday, April 8, 2023 (WAFA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Riyad al-Malki, briefed his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a telephone conversation, on the latest developments in occupied East Jerusalem and in the Palestinian territories.

Malki, who thanked his counterpart for the Turkish support for Palestine, highlighted the escalating Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territory in general and in Jerusalem, particularly the aggression of the Israeli occupation forces against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

For his part, Cavusoglu stressed the importance of protecting Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Turkiye's readiness to do what is necessary to reduce tension, stressing that Ankara will always stand by Palestine.

The Turkish foreign minister yesterday lashed out at last week’s Israeli forces' attacks against Palestinians and the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque that resulted in dozens injured, hundreds arrested and serious damage to the Al-Qibli mosque located within Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound or Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

"We are upset but also angry as we are sad about Israel's attacks," the Turkish Anadolu news agency quoted Cavusoglu saying, while calling the attacks "reckless" and that such incidents went against humanity and conscience.

M.K.