Foreign ministers warn Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem are fuelling tensions and instability
The Dome of the Rock in the al-Aqsa compound, also known to Jews as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem’s Old City February 9, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS/ File
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday strongly condemned the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.
The condemnation came a day after Israeli forces on Sunday stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem under police protection.
In a joint statement, the ministers said the actions constituted a violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
“The foreign ministers of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of Indonesia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates condemn in the strongest terms the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif under the protection of the Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards,” the statement said.
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Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of the Group of Eight Arab-Islamic States
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 2, 2026
The ministers said these “provocative and unacceptable actions constitute 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 statement further condemned what it described as “continued and systematic violations and measures” by Israel 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 ministers reaffirmed their “categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites”, while stressing the importance of preserving it and recognising the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard.
Also Read: Israeli occupiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection
They reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, covering 144 dunams, was a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
“The Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and to regulate entry thereto,” the statement added.
The ministers held Israeli authorities responsible for halting what they termed escalatory actions and warned that repeated Israeli violations were exacerbating tensions, fuelling instability and extremism, undermining international efforts to achieve peace and constituting a breach of Israel’s obligations under international law.
They called for the immediate cessation of all such Israeli practices and reaffirmed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif in its entirety.
The ministers also reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their legitimate and inalienable national rights.
Foremost among these rights, the statement said, was the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers further reaffirmed their support for efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
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 ancient Jewish temples.
Israeli settlers stormed the mosque 30 times in April, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, with incursions continuing into May as well.
In April, foreign ministers of Pakistan and seven other Muslim countries condemned Israel’s “unacceptable” violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, describing them as repeated breaches of the historic and legal status quo after dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy police protection.
The ministers particularly condemned continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.
“Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the ministers emphasised, categorically rejecting any attempts to annex the territory or displace the Palestinian people.
Since 2003, Israeli police have unilaterally allowed the occupiers to enter the mosque daily during two periods—morning and afternoon prayers—except on Fridays and Saturdays.
Palestinians say Israel is intensifying efforts to Judaize East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity.
The Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, based on international resolutions that do not recognise Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967 or its annexation in 1980.
