ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly condemned the raid by Israeli forces on Al Aqsa Mosque during ongoing holy month of Ramadan, expelling the worshippers and violating the sanctity of the mosque.

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Office said it is reprehensible that such attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces during Ramadan, have become a regular feature in recent years. The Foreign Office termed such acts grave violation of fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief and an affront to the religious sentiments of over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world.

It said indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation forces against defenseless Palestinians defies all humanitarian and human rights norms and laws and by doing so, Israel has backed out on its own recent commitment to respect the sanctity of Ramadan. The Foreign Office urged the international community to take urgent action to put an end to the Israeli transgressions that have been particularly ascendant since the beginning of this year.

The Foreign office while reaffirming Pakistan’s unflinching support to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, renewed Pakistan’s call for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.