AMMAN — The victims of the brutal terrorist attack against worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch last Friday are receiving the best medical attention, New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said on Sunday.

 

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi received a phone call from Peters during which the latter stressed that his country has offered all needed treatment for the wounded Jordanians, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

 

Five Jordanians shot in the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayer are still in hospital, including four-year-old Alin Alsati and her father, while four Jordanians were killed.

 

The Jordanians who lost their lives in the terror attack are Abdulfattah Qasem Ibrahim Qasim, Ali Mahmoud Abdullah Madani, Ata Mohammad Ata Elyyan and Kamel Mohammad-Kamal Kamel Darwish, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Spokesperson Sufian Qudah announced on Sunday.

 

Safadi and Peters exchanged condolences over the massacre's victims, which reached 50 on Sunday, slamming this “heinous terrorist crime” and stressing that terrorism does not belong to any religion or culture.

 

An Israeli court on Sunday ordered the temporary closure of the side building at the highly sensitive Jerusalem holy site that has been the source of tensions in recent weeks, AFP news agency said.

 

The Jerusalem magistrates court said the building should be closed while the case continues, according to AFP.

 

The Awqaf Ministry-affiliated Jerusalem Awqaf Department was given 60 days to respond to the court case involving the building.

 

Israeli authorities have called for the building to be closed, AFP added.

 

Recent weeks have seen scuffles over Bab Al Rahmah.

 

Palestinian worshippers have been entering the site despite an Israeli order that it should stay closed.

 

Israel shut off access to Bab Al Rahmah in 2003 during the second Palestinian Intifada over alleged “militant activity” there.

 

Palestinian officials argue that the organisation that prompted the ban no longer exists and there is no reason for it to remain closed.

 

Jerusalem Awqaf spokesman Firas Dibs said it did not intend to abide by the court’s decision, adding that the building remained open on Sunday, according to AFP.

 

The department said in a statement on Saturday that it wants to carry out renovations at the building, but keep it open during that time for Palestinians who wish to pray there.

 

It said that far-right Israelis were seeking to take over the side building, but Israeli authorities say they are committed to enforcing the current rules in place at the site that prevent such moves, AFP said.

 

Meanwhile, the Lower House decided to hold an emergency session on Monday to discuss the “attacks on Al Aqsa Mosque”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

 

The Jerusalem Awqaf Department has the sole authority to manage the affairs of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.