Turkish parliament speaker criticizes Israel on Al-Aqsa

Ismail Kahraman, speaking amid ongoing going unrest in Jerusalem, said the use of metal detectors at an Islamic holy site in the city was “treating Muslims as if they were terrorists”.

In remarks in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Kahraman said: "The ongoing suppression against Palestinians is false and cannot be accepted. The security policies conducted by Israel are against religious liberty and human rights."

Anger has spilled across the West Bank since last week when Israel shut East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, venerated by Muslims and Jews -- who call the site Temple Mount -- following a deadly shootout.

The mosque was reopened after two days, with Israel installing metal detectors and cameras at its gates. Palestinians say this aims to change the status quo -- a delicate balance of prayer and visiting rights.

Israel refused to remove the detectors, claiming the security measures were similar to procedures taken at other holy sites around the world.

Three Palestinians were killed on Friday in protests against the Israeli measures around the holy site. Three Jewish settlers were also killed in an alleged Palestinian attack in a settlement in the West Bank.

The city of Jerusalem is sacred to members of all three Abrahamic faiths -- Muslims, Jews and Christians -- and the Al-Aqsa Mosque represents the Islamic world's third-holiest site.

Anadolu Agency