Condemnations have poured over after video footages on social media confirmed two Israeli troopers chanting Hanukkah songs and Jewish prayer over the loudspeakers of a mosque in Jenin within the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Authorities, the U.S., U.N and Türkiye all joined in condemnation of the incident, video of which was shared by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Media experiences mentioned the troopers took over the loudspeaker system of a neighborhood mosque to sing a number of songs for the Hanukkah vacation and an important Jewish prayer “Shema Yisrael.”
Typically the muezzin is heard by way of the loudspeakers of a mosque calling Muslims to prayer.
It was not clear when the footage was filmed however Israeli forces have been engaged in a lethal raid in Jenin this week that noticed 11 Palestinians killed, based on the Palestinian well being ministry.
The troopers have been reportedly dismissed from the mission by their commanders and launched an preliminary investigation into the incidents, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz cited a military spokesman as saying.
“The behavior of the soldiers is serious and completely contrary to the values of the Israeli army. The soldiers will be disciplined accordingly,” he mentioned.
The Palestinian presidency condemned what it referred to as the “shameful desecration” of the mosque.
“Israeli occupation forces’ desecration of a mosque in the Jenin camp is shameful and condemnable behaviour,” Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh mentioned in an announcement.
He warned towards “dragging the region into a religious war” and of “the repercussions of these attacks.”
“The flames of religious war that Israel seeks to ignite will not be limited to Palestinian region only, but will extend to the entire world if it remains silent about Israel’s crimes and violations of the rights of Palestinian people.”
Abu Rudeineh referred to as on the worldwide group and the United States to “put pressure on Israel to stop its violations against Palestinian people, their property and their sanctities.”
In its response, the U.S. mentioned it was involved about “not appropriate” social media footage.
“I did see that video. That’s obviously not appropriate,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller informed Anadolu Agency (AA).
“We were concerned when we saw the reports,” mentioned Miller.
Türkiye slams disrespect
Türkiye additionally strongly condemned the “provocations” by Israeli forces and the desecration of the mosque, Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry mentioned, calling for these accountable to be punished.
“We strongly condemn the provocations of Israeli soldiers who stormed the Jenin Refugee Camp, and disrespected sanctity of a place of worship by entering the mosque,” Spokesman Öncü Keçeli mentioned on social messaging platform X late Thursday.
“In East Jerusalem and the West Bank, where tensions are running extremely high due to settler terror and heavy pressure and attacks by Israeli security forces against Palestinians, we expect attacks on Muslim holy places to be ended immediately and those who perpetrate these provocations to be punished in the most severe way,” he added.
The United Nations, within the meantime, warned that non secular websites should be revered.
“The desecration of religious sites should not be tolerated. And so that is against common decency, to say the least,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric informed reporters Thursday.
“Religious sites need to be respected and cannot be perverted in one way or another.”
In Gaza, Israel has carried out a brutal army operation towards Palestinian resistance group Hamas, and has shelled the territory for weeks, the Antiquities Ministry estimates greater than 100 mosques have been destroyed.
Tensions have additionally been operating excessive throughout the West Bank amid an Israeli army offensive following the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion.
At least 288 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and greater than 4,000 others detained since then, based on Palestinian figures.
Source: www.dailysabah.com