CAIRO: In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of eight Arab-Islamic nations have strongly condemned recent Israeli activities at Al Aqsa Mosque, asserting that these actions constitute violations of international law and disrupt efforts toward peace in the region. The statement highlights concerns over mass incursions by settlers, which are said to be led by extremist Israeli ministers, and calls for an end to provocative acts in East Jerusalem.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have voiced opposition to actions including the raising of the Israeli flag and the erection of tents by Israeli police within the mosque’s courtyards. The foreign ministers emphasized that such actions breach the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites, as defined by international law and United Nations resolutions.

The statement further censures illegal incitement and violence by Israeli ministers and groups, warning that these activities incite hatred and hinder progress toward a two-state solution. It also criticizes access restrictions imposed by Israel on places of worship in Jerusalem, labeling these as discriminatory and illegal attempts to alter the city’s historical and demographic fabric.

The ministers reiterated their support for maintaining the status quo of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian sites and recognized the Hashemite custodianship’s special role in this context. They called for Israel to lift restrictions on access to the Old City and urged the international community to pressure Israel to cease its ongoing violations.