Pakistan, seven other countries condemn Israel's 'flagrant violation' at Al-Aqsa in joint statement

Pakistan and seven Arab-Islamic countries on Friday condemned what they called Israel's "flagrant violation" of the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, denouncing continued settler incursions led by extremist Israeli ministers under military protection and warning that the actions undermine international law and prospects for a two-state solution.

The condemnation comes a day after 1,300 Israeli occupiers, joined by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem as they marked the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, commemorating what they call the “destruction of the Temple."

In a joint statement shared by the Foreign Office (FO), the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemned "in the strongest terms" the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers led by extremist ministers under the protection of Israeli forces.

The ministers denounced the "continued mass settlers' incursions led by extremist Israeli ministers" into the mosque compound, the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards, the erection of two tents by Israeli police, and "all other inflammatory acts."

They said these 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 joint statement also condemned the "illegal and extremist acts of incitement, incursions, mobilization calls and violence by Israeli extremist ministers and groups," warning that such actions "fuel hatred and extremism" and obstruct efforts to achieve "a just and lasting peace based on the two-State solution."

The foreign ministers said restrictions imposed on access to Jerusalem's Old City and its places of worship, along with what they called discriminatory and arbitrary access restrictions to other religious sites, amounted to "a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law," and represented "an unlawful attempt to alter the historical and legal status quo."

Read: Around 1,300 Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem

They stressed that "Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites."

The ministers further condemned Israel's "continued and systematic violations and measures" 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.

Reaffirming their "categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites," the ministers emphasized the need to preserve the existing arrangements while recognising "the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship" over the holy sites.

The statement reiterated that "the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which amounts to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims," adding that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, remains "the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction" to administer the mosque compound and regulate entry.

The ministers called on Israel, "as the occupying Power," to immediately remove restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and "refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers' access to the Mosque."

They also urged the international community to adopt "a firm position" that compels Israel to halt what they described as its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as violations of the sanctity of those sites.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognised by the international community.