Arab League, OIC, and African Union slam Al-Aqsa storming in joint statement

Ahram Online , Thursday 9 Apr 2026

The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the African Union Commission have condemned what they described as a provocative storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, carried out under heavy Israeli military escort.

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Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir standing in front of the Al-Aqsa Mosque , in occupied Jerusalem. Photo courtesy of Quds news.

 

In a joint statement released on Thursday, the three organizations said the incursion constituted "a blatant attack on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa" and a violation of international resolutions and conventions.

They warned that the move risked inflaming Muslim sentiment across the world.

On Monday evening, Israeli far-right Minister Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa compound through the Al-Maghariba Gate under heavy police protection and strict security measures, including restrictions on Palestinian movement and limited access for worshippers.

The storming came while the Israeli authorities had kept the mosque closed to Palestinian worshippers for 40 days.

The site reopened for dawn prayers on Thursday, but strict measures remained in place, including identity checks at the gates, denial of entry to some young men, and reported assaults on worshippers.

The Arab League, AU Commission, and OIC characterized the mosque's continued closure as part of a broader pattern of escalating violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.

They warned that this posed "a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability."

Meanwhile, the three organizations affirmed that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. Additionally.

They also rejected all Israeli measures they deemed aimed at altering Jerusalem's demographic and geographic character or undermining the Palestinian presence in the city.

The statement called on the international community, and the UN Security Council in particular, to compel Israeli authorities to respect freedom of worship and lift all restrictions on Palestinian access to the site.

The organizations reaffirmed their support for Palestinian statehood within the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and expressed backing for international efforts to advance a two-state solution.

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