Hyderabad: Grand Mufti of Al Aqsa mosque, the third holiest place of Islam in the world, has appealed to the Indian government and the people to continue their traditional support to the cause of liberation of Palestine from Israeli occupation.

Grand Mufti Mohammad A M Hussain who was on a visit to Hyderabad along with a Palestinian delegation, told a press conference the very existence of Al Aqsa mosque was in danger as Israel was trying to demolish it by undertaking excavation beneath the structure and also desecrating it.

“Israel is trying to divide the Al Aqsa mosque and change the character of occupied Jerusalem by giving the Jewish names to its streets and places. Not a day passes with out Jewish settlers [colonists] and army personnel violating the sanctity of the mosque to eventually take full control of the mosque”, the Grand Mufti said.

“But our people are there to resist and oppose any such move”, he said urging the international community to come out against Israel’s plans.

Pointing out that the suffering of the Palestinians was getting worse by the day, the Grand Mufti said that the support and solidarity of Indian people was needed much more than ever before.

“We hope that the traditional support and solidarity of Indian people will continue for the total liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as capital. Jerusalem is the heart of Palestine and third holiest place of Islam and was also important for Christians”, he said.

Palestinian member of Parliament Andullah Abdullah exuded confidence that the new government in India will continue to be supportive of Palestinian cause, which was the corner stone of Indian foreign policy since the days of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru.

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had congratulated Narendra Modi when he was a Prime Minister designate”, he said.

When asked whether there was any apprehension among the Palestinians regarding the support of India under the new government, Abdullah said that India was a sovereign country to decided its policy. “We hope that India’s stand will continue to be based on values and not only on interests”, he said.

At the same time he pointed out that the movement of boycotting Israeli products was increasing throughout the world.

“Presbyterian church of USA has decided to divest from the Israeli companies and the occupied territories. Similarly two top most American Universities, University of California and University of Chicago were also boycotting the products from the occupied territories as they were coming from the stolen water and lands. Bill Gatesh has decided to divest from the occupied territories companies”, he said urging the Indian people to join the boycott movement. On the other hand he rued that United States was not at all neutral and continues to shun away from criticizing Israel.

Syed Viqaruddin, Chairman of Indo-Arab League said that his organisation was going to invite the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hyderabad and ask him to spell out India’s stand on the issue of Palestine. He said that Indo-Arab League has been organizing such meetings and campaigning for the rights of Palestinians for nearly four decades and all the foreign ministers of India from Swaran Singh to Salman Khursheed had attended its meetings to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The organization was planning to hold a big international conference on Palestine in Hyderabad in November with participation from several Arab and Islamic countries.