Turkey hits out at 'abominable' Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Jerusalem

More than 200 people were wounded when Israeli riot police stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound late on Friday, firing tear gas and rubber-coated bullets at thousands of worshippers gathered in the last days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Dozens of Israeli riot police entered the Al-Aqsa compound, also known as the Temple Mount, on Friday evening as thousands of Muslim worshippers were holding evening prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan.

"We strongly condemn the abominable attacks against the Al-Aqsa mosque ... which are unfortunately carried out every Ramadan," Erdogan said on Twitter, referring to the Muslim month of fasting.

"We will continue to be at the side of our Palestinian brothers and sisters in all circumstances," Erdogan pledged.

Turkey's foreign minister had on Friday urged the Israeli government to end its "aggressive and provocative" policy against Palestinians.

Some 300 people demonstrated Saturday outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul in support of the Palestinians in Jerusalem.

The protest was organised by the pro-government NGO called IHH which oversaw a flotilla of ships that tried to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010.

Since then relations have been strained between Turkey and Israel with ambassadors being withdrawn in 2018 after the deaths of Palestinian protesters in the enclave.

Meanwhile, officials confirmed an emergency Arab League meeting will be held this week to respond to increasing Israeli violence against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

The session will be chaired by Qatar on Monday and comes at the request of the State of Palestine, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, assistant secretary-general of the Arab States Council said.

Read also: US, UK lawmakers express support for Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah over forced evictions, violence

The meeting will discuss Israeli crimes in the occupied holy city of Jerusalem, with particular focus on attacks on worshippers inside the Al Aqsa mosque, the official added.

The session will also deal with “an attempt to empty the holy city of its residents and displace its people,” he said, referring to the forced expulsion threat against four Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.

The United Nations released a statement condemning the forced evictions.

"The evictions, if ordered and implemented, would violate Israel's obligations under international law," the statement read.

Agencies contributed to this report.

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