Saudi Arabia and seven nations condemn Israeli escalation at Al-Aqsa, urge firm action

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have strongly condemned Israel’s escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif. They denounced the ongoing mass incursions by settlers, led by extremist Israeli ministers, into the mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police, the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards, the erection of two police tents, and other provocative acts. The ministers stressed that these unacceptable escalatory actions constitute a blatant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers also strongly condemned illegal and extremist acts, including incitement and calls to intensify incursions, as well as violence committed by Israeli ministers and extremist groups. They warned that such provocations fuel hatred and extremism and undermine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

They stated: “The restrictions imposed on access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its places of worship, along with discriminatory and arbitrary limitations on access to other places of worship in the Old City, are a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and represent illegal attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo.” The ministers affirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The foreign ministers further condemned the ongoing violations and systematic measures carried out by Israel, the occupying power, aimed at changing the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

They reiterated their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, emphasizing the need to preserve it and highlighting the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship in this regard. The ministers reaffirmed that the entire 144-dunum area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing all affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulating entry to it.

The ministers called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on access to Jerusalem’s Old City and to refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

They also urged the international community to take a firm stance to compel Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and its violations of the sanctity of these sites.