File Photo: An elderly Palestinian worshipper walks to the Dome of the Rock in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. AP
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned repeated violations by Israeli occupation authorities of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly ongoing incursions by settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection.
In a joint statement, the ministers denounced provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque — also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif — including the raising of Israeli flags within its courtyards, describing them as a flagrant violation of international law and an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide.
They reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempt to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, stressing the need to preserve existing arrangements while recognizing the special role of the Hashemite custodianship. The ministers underscored that the entire 144-dunam compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims, and reaffirmed that the Jerusalem Endowments Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, holds sole authority over its administration and access.
The ministers also condemned accelerating Israeli settlement activity, including the approval of more than 30 new settlement units, describing it as a clear violation of international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. They further denounced escalating settler violence in the West Bank, including attacks targeting Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability.
Reiterating that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the ministers rejected any attempt at annexation or forced displacement of Palestinians, warning that such measures undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state and efforts to implement the two-state solution.
They urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, take decisive action to halt these violations, and intensify efforts toward a comprehensive political settlement based on the two-state framework, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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