ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries have jointly condemned repeated violations of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, warning that recent actions risk further destabilising the region and undermining prospects for peace.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly criticised continued incursions by Israeli settlers and officials into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards under police protection. The ministers said such actions constitute “a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law” and In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly criticised continued incursions by Israeli settlers and officials into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards under police protection.
The ministers said such actions constitute “a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law” and an “unacceptable provocation” to Muslims worldwide. They reaffirmed their rejection of any attempt to alter the existing status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, stressing the need to preserve its historic arrangements.
They also reiterated recognition of Jordan’s special custodial role over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and stressed that the Al-Aqsa compound remains exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, administered by the Jordanian-affiliated Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department. Beyond Jerusalem, the ministers condemned accelerating expansion of illegal settlement across the occupied West Bank, including approval of more than 30 new settlements. They said these measures violate international law, relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and a 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. They reiterated support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the two-state solution.
