The Foreign Ministers of eight Arab-Islamic states have issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif complex, which are being carried out under the protection of Israeli forces. They also denounced the raising of the Israeli flag within the mosque's courtyards.
Joint Statement Highlights Violations
In a joint statement, the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates emphasized that these provocative and unacceptable actions represent a clear breach of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
The ministers further condemned Israel's systematic violations and measures aimed at altering the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem, as well as undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites. They reiterated their categorical rejection of any attempts to change the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and stressed the importance of preserving it, while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship.
Al-Aqsa Mosque as Exclusive Muslim Worship Site
The ministers reaffirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif, spanning 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They noted that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of the site and regulate entry.
The Foreign Ministers held Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory actions and warned that repeated violations exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, undermine international peace efforts, and constitute a clear breach of Israel's obligations under international law. They called for an immediate cessation of all illegal and provocative Israeli practices and urged respect for the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif in their entirety.
Support for Palestinian Rights
The ministers reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfast support for the realization of their legitimate and inalienable national rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They further expressed support for all efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.
