The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today condemned the attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian worshipers offering Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and called on the Biden administration to issue a similar condemnation.
Israeli forces stormed the holy site, firing stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian worshipers offering special Ramadan prayers. Hundreds of worshipers were arrested.
SEE: Israeli police storm al-Aqsa mosque for the second time on Wednesday
In a statement, CAIR-CA Chief Executive Officer Hussam Ayloush said:
“For Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of peaceful contemplation and worship. For Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, it has historically been and continues to be a period of increased violence from Israeli forces.
“The recent unprovoked attacks on Palestinian worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a violation of the sanctity of a holy monument revered by people of all faiths and cultures, but also a culmination of Israel’s complete disregard for the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. It is not enough for Israel to evict Palestinians from their homes, destroy their land, force them to go through multiple military checkpoints, and control the water, electricity, and public transportation—they must also brutally prevent Palestinians from observing the holiest month of the year.
“We call on the Biden administration to take immediate action to condemn this attack and address the U.S. policies that enable Israel’s ongoing aggression towards the Palestinian people. It is our moral duty as Americans, whose tax money funds Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians, to take a firm stance against Israel’s consistent human rights violations and work towards a just and lasting resolution to the occupation.
“As Israeli forces assault Palestinian worshipers inside the mosque for the second night in a row, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and will continue to advocate for their rights and dignity.”
He noted that CAIR has previously called on the Biden administration to stand up to the new Israeli government composed of openly racist and genocidal far-right politicians.