Canada ‘concerned’ about violence around al-Aqsa Mosque: Prime minister

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

Toronto, CANADA (AA) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau voiced concerns about violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in East Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan.

"We are extremely concerned with the inflamed rhetoric coming out of the Israeli government," Trudeau said at a public budget announcement.

"It is the holy month of Ramadan and Passover together, and both Israeli and Palestinian families deserve to be able to celebrate in peace and security," he said.

"We are concerned by the violence around Al-Aqsa Mosque during this holy month. We need to see the Israeli government shifting in its approach," said Trudeau. "We need to see a de-escalation of violence and people should be living in peace and prosperity in the region."

Israeli police said earlier that they detained 350 Palestinians from the complex.

A group of Palestinians barricaded themselves in the Al-Qibli Prayer Hall in the complex after Jewish settlers called for a raid on the mosque. Israeli forces and Jewish settlers frequently carry out raids on the mosque.

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents Islam’s third-holiest site, while Jews call the area the Temple Mount.