The Israeli occupation authorities deported on Monday two of the three Turks who were detained during demonstrations at al-Aqsa mosque last week after U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Abdullah Kızılırmak and Mehmet Gargalı reportedly arrived in Istanbul late Monday on a Turkish Airlines plane.
According to eyewitnesses the Israeli police blocked the Turkish group which also included children from entering al-Aqsa Mosque— the third holiest site in Islam. Some in the group were wearing t-shirts with the Turkish flag and fezzes traditional Ottoman hats.
The Israeli forces shouted at the group telling them that they would not be able to enter the site unless they took off their t-shirts with the Turkish flags causing a brawl after which two people were detained the eyewitnesses said.
Tension has mounted in the Palestinian territories since Dec. 6 when U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital drawing protest and condemnation from across the Arab and Muslim world.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other top Turkish officials have remained at the forefront of international opposition to the U.S. move.
Last Thursday the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution — by a vote of 128 to 9 — calling on Trump to reverse the decision.
