Arab-Islamic states slam Al-Aqsa incursions

ISLAMABAD:

The foreign ministers of eight Arab-Islamic states on Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.

In a joint statement, Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, stressed that these provocative and unacceptable actions constituted a flagrant violation of international law, the relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites in occupied east Jerusalem.

"The Foreign Ministers further condemn the continued and systematic violations and measures carried out by Israel, the occupying power, aimed at altering the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied east Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites," the joint statement said.

They reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites and stressed on its preservation while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard.