The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday strongly condemned repeated violations of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
In a joint statement issued from Islamabad, the ministers denounced continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag inside its courtyards.
They said such actions constituted a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and described them as an unacceptable provocation to Muslims around the world and a serious violation of the sanctity of the holy city.
The ministers reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, stressing the need to preserve them while recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship.
They reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, covering 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and said the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal authority responsible for administering the site and regulating entry.
The joint statement also condemned the accelerating illegal settlement activity, including Israel’s decision to approve more than 30 new settlements, calling it a clear violation of international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
The ministers further denounced continued and escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability for those responsible.
They emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and categorically rejected any attempts to annex Palestinian land or displace the Palestinian people.
The ministers warned that such actions directly threaten the viability of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution, increase tensions, undermine peace efforts, and hinder ongoing regional and international initiatives aimed at de-escalation and restoring stability.
They called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and intensify efforts toward a comprehensive political solution based on the two-state solution.
The ministers also reiterated their unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and to establish an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.