Pakistan, 7 other Muslim states condemn Israeli settlers' incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque

Islamabad (Web Desk): The foreign ministers of eight Arab-Islamic countries, including Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have strongly condemned continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif) under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.

In a joint statement, the ministers said these actions represent a serious violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo of holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

They also condemned ongoing Israeli measures aimed at altering the historical, legal, and demographic status of occupied East Jerusalem, warning that such actions undermine the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The ministers reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to change the existing status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites and stressed the importance of preserving the current arrangements, including the role of the Hashemite custodianship.

They emphasized that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and highlighted the authority of the Jordanian-affiliated Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department in managing the site.

The statement held Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory actions, warning that continued violations fuel tensions, instability, and extremism, and undermine international peace efforts.

The ministers called for an immediate end to all such provocative measures and urged full respect for the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

They reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They also reaffirmed support for efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in accordance with international law, UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.