ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven Muslim nations on Tuesday condemned Israeli violations at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and reaffirmed support for Jordan’s custodial role over the site, warning that continued Israeli actions at the holy site could fuel tensions and undermine peace efforts.
The joint statement by the foreign ministers of Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Türkiye comes amid renewed controversy over visits by Israeli settlers and activists to the compound, known to Muslims as Al-Haram Al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
The statement also comes as Jordan has repeatedly accused Israel of undermining the historical status quo governing the site, while recent media reports have raised concerns about proposals that could weaken Amman’s longstanding custodial role over Muslim holy sites in 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.
The ministers said such actions constituted a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the historical and legal status quo governing the holy site in occupied East Jerusalem.
The statement warned against measures taken by Israel to change the historical, legal and demographic character of East Jerusalem, condemning any step taken to undermine the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
“They reaffirm their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and stress on its preservation while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard,” the statement said.
Jordan serves as custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem through the Jerusalem Waqf, which administers the Al-Aqsa compound under longstanding arrangements recognized in Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel.
The ministers reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound was an exclusively Muslim place of worship and said the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, remained the sole legal authority responsible for administering the site and regulating entry.
“The Foreign Ministers hold Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory actions and warn that repeated Israeli violations exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, undermine international efforts to achieve peace, and constitute a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law,” the statement said.
They also reiterated support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, and renewed backing for a two-state solution based on international law, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
