Qatar, seven Arab and Islamic countries condemn Israeli escalation in Al Aqsa Mosque

DOHA — The foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have condemned in the strongest terms what they described as Israeli escalation at Al Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al Sharif in occupied East Jerusalem.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the ministers pointed in particular to continued mass incursions by settlers led by extremist Israeli ministers into the compound under the protection of Israeli forces, the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards, the erection of two tents by Israeli police, and other acts they described as inflammatory.

They said such provocative and unacceptable actions constituted a flagrant 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 denounced what they called illegal and extremist acts of incitement and calls to mobilise incursions, along with acts of violence committed by Israeli ministers and extremist groups. They also condemned continued and systematic measures aimed, they said, at altering the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reiterated that the entire 144-dunam area of Al Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al Sharif is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and affirmed that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which is affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal authority responsible for administering the compound and regulating entry to it.
The ministers held the Israeli authorities responsible for halting the escalation, warning that repeated violations risk heightening tensions, fuelling instability, hatred and extremism, and undermining international efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace. They called on the international community to adopt a firm position compelling Israel to end such practices.

The statement followed a mass entry into the compound by thousands of Israeli nationalists, led by ministers and lawmakers, at the site known to Muslims as Al Haram Al Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. Under the long-standing status quo arrangement, non-Muslims may visit but not pray there. Israel has consistently maintained that it preserves freedom of worship at the site and rejects criticism of its actions in Jerusalem.