Parl. speaker: Israel should await crushing punishment from resistance

Iran’s Parliament speaker has vehemently condemned the recent Israeli aggression on al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinian worshipers in the holy fasting month of Ramadhan, warning that a harsh and crushing punishment from the resistance awaits the occupying regime over its barbaric violence.

According to Press TV, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the remark in an address at the onset of a plenary session in the Iranian legislature on Sunday, following the Israeli regime’s continued desecration of al-Aqsa and violent raid against Palestinian worshipers performing Ramadhan-related rituals at the holy site.

“I strongly condemn the desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque, the first qibla (direction) of Muslims, and the arrest and beating of pilgrims and worshipers in that holy place, and the brutal attacks of the Zionist regime on the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon,” Qalibaf said.

“For decades, the Zionist regime has turned into an unrestrained and increasingly criminal killing machine by violating all international laws,” he added.

The Iranian Parliament speaker called on all Muslims across the world to stay united in support of their valiant and resistant brothers and sisters in Palestine and stand up for the cause of the holy Quds on this year’s International Quds Day, the last Friday of Ramadhan.

“Today, the Zionist regime is in its weakest state in history, and the resistance front’s clout has forced the regime to react cravenly. The Zionist regime knows that, based on the strength of the resistance front, a harsh and crushing punishment awaits them on the promised day,” Qalibaf noted.

Dozens of heavily armed Israeli forces stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Tuesday night before firing tear gas and stun grenades into the Qibli prayer hall, where hundreds of men, women, elderly people and children were staying overnight to pray. Some eyewitnesses said rubber-coated steel bullets were also fired.

Israeli officers then beat worshipers with batons and riot guns, wounding many, before arresting them.

Videos from inside the mosque showed Israeli officers repeatedly hitting people with batons while they appeared to lie on the floor. In the meantime, the cries for help from women and children could be heard in the background.

Within less than 24 hours, the regime’s forces staged a second attack against the Palestinian worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

In response to the Israeli aggression on al-Aqsa, more than 30 rockets were fired towards the Occupied Territories from southern Lebanon on Thursday, with the occupying regime targeting Gaza and positions of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Lebanon.

Since the start of the holy month, the Israeli regime has imposed strict restrictions on the entry and exit of Palestinians to and from the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque. Amid heightened tensions with Palestinian worshipers, Israeli settlers also press ahead with their frequent incursions and provocative rituals at the holy site.

ME