Eight Arab and Islamic nations issued a joint statement on Thursday forcefully condemning the latest Israeli actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. The foreign ministers warned against ongoing attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites.
The joint declaration was released by the foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The diplomats strongly denounced the deliberate incursions by Israeli settlers, which were led by cabinet ministers and carried out under the active protection of Israeli police forces. They also cited the controversial hoisting of the Israeli flag inside the compound courtyard as a direct provocation.
According to the signatories, these practices constitute a flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Dispute Over Sovereignty and Status Quo
The joint statement firmly rejected any attempt to change the long-standing status quo in Jerusalem, emphasizing that Israel possesses no sovereign rights over occupied East Jerusalem or its Muslim and Christian sacred locations.
The foreign ministers reiterated that the entire 144-dunam (36-acre) Al-Aqsa Mosque complex is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims. Furthermore, they emphasized that the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf—operating under the Ministry of Sacred Assets, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places of Jordan—remains the sole legal authority empowered to manage, administer, and regulate access to the site.
Call for Immediate International Action
Addressing Israel's responsibilities as the occupying power, the coalition demanded an immediate lifting of all access restrictions imposed on worshippers seeking to enter the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The eight nations called upon the international community to adopt a firm, unified stance to compel Israel to halt all violations and preserve the historical integrity of religious sites across Jerusalem.
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