Abbas shortens Saudi trip amid Israel’s largest assault on West Bank in years

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has shortened his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to Palestinian territories over Israel’s deadly military raids in the occupied West Bank.

Abbas returned from the Arab kingdom on Wednesday, after Israel escalated violence in the northern parts of the occupied Palestinian region by launching new military offensives, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

“Abbas cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and returned to his homeland on Wednesday to follow up on the latest developments in light of the Israeli aggression on the northern West Bank,” it said.

According to figures by the Red Crescent, at least ten Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids and strikes in several towns.

Ahmed Jibril, a Red Crescent spokesman, said two Palestinians were killed in the city of Jenin, four others in a nearby village, and four more in a refugee camp near the town of Tubas.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the regime forces launched an operation in Jenin and Tulkarm.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia denounced the “extremist and provocative statements” made by the Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding a plan to construct a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East al-Quds.

“The Kingdom affirms its categorical rejection of these extremists and provocative statements and its rejection of the ongoing provocations [of] Muslims’ feelings around the world,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Kingdom stresses the need to respect the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque,” it added.

Iran slams Israeli scheme to build synagogue within Al-Aqsa Mosque

It has been the first time Israeli minister Ben-Gvir openly speaks about building a synagogue inside the complex.

In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio on Monday, Ben-Gvir confirmed that he had a plan to build a synagogue inside the complex.

Various countries and international organizations also reacted to the remarks by the Israeli minister. The United Nations cautioned that his statement risks escalating the already tense situation.

It was the first time for the Israeli minister to openly speak about building a synagogue inside the complex, strengthening the narrative that the Muslim holy site and Palestinian national symbol is under threat from the occupying regime.

Ben-Gvir has repeatedly visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, despite a longstanding ban on Jews praying at the site.

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