Turkey condemns Israeli minister-led raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque

Turkey on Thursday condemned a raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem led by Israeli Minister of Negev and Galilee Affairs Yitzhak Wasserlauf, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We condemn the raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque carried out by an Israeli minister accompanied by a group of settlers," the ministry said. The statement warned that "such provocative acts, which violate the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a holy site belonging to Muslims, risk further deepening tensions and instability in the region."

The raid occurred on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, two days before Israel marks the anniversary of its 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, according to the Hebrew calendar. Wasserlauf is a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both Ben-Gvir and Wasserlauf had previously forced their way into the Al-Aqsa compound, drawing condemnations from Palestinians and Arab countries.

Far-right Israeli organizations have called on supporters to storm the Al-Aqsa compound to mark the occupation anniversary, and a flag march is planned for Thursday evening in East Jerusalem.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry reiterated its call on the international community to protect Palestinian rights and prevent violations in occupied East Jerusalem. "We reiterate our call on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in protecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and preventing violations in occupied East Jerusalem and against its holy sites," the statement said.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the entire city in 1980, a move not recognized internationally.