Foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have condemned what they described as repeated violations by Israeli authorities against the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the ministers denounced ongoing incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers and extremist officials under police protection, as well as the raising of Israeli flags inside its courtyards.
They said such actions constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law and international humanitarian law, and an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide.
The ministers firmly rejected any attempts to alter the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, reaffirming the special role of the Hashemite custodianship.
They stressed that the entire 144-dunam compound of Al-Aqsa is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf Department retains sole legal authority over its administration and access.
The statement also condemned Israeli settlement activity, including the approval of more than 30 new settlements, describing it as a clear breach of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
Rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on schools and children, was also denounced, with calls for accountability.
The ministers warned that such measures undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the two-state solution, while fuelling tensions and obstructing peace efforts. They urged the international community to take decisive action to halt violations and reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
