Cairo: The Foreign Ministers of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Trkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar condemn in the strongest terms the Israeli escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al Sharif. The Ministers specifically denounce the continued mass settlers' incursions led by extremist Israeli ministers into Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif, under the protection of the Israeli forces. They highlight the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards and the erection of two tents by Israeli police as provocative and inflammatory acts that violate international law and United Nations resolutions regarding the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the Ministers further deplore and condemn the illegal and extremist acts of incitement and calls for violence by Israeli extremist ministers and groups. They warn that these actions fuel hatred and extremism while obstructing efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on a two-State solution.
The statement highlights that restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, along with discriminatory access restrictions, constitute a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law. These actions are seen as unlawful attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo.
The Foreign Ministers emphasize that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. They condemn the measures carried out by Israel, aimed at altering the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem, and undermining the sanctity of its holy sites.
Reaffirming their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the status quo in Jerusalem, the Ministers stress the importance of preserving the historical and legal status of its holy sites. They recognize the special role of the Hashemite custodianship in this regard and reiterate that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Sharif is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
The Ministers call on Israel to immediately remove access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers' access to the Mosque. They urge the international community to take a firm stance to compel Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against the holy sites in Jerusalem.