Eight nations, including Saudi Arabia, condemn Israeli escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque

RIYADH — The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Israel's escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, warning that recent actions threaten the historic and legal status quo at the holy site.In a joint statement, the ministers condemned continued incursions by Israeli settlers into the mosque compound under the protection of Israeli forces, including visits led by Israeli ministers, the raising of the Israeli flag inside the compound, the erection of two police tents and other provocative actions.The ministers said such measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the historic and legal status quo governing the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.They also condemned incitement, calls encouraging incursions and acts of violence by Israeli extremist ministers and groups, warning that such actions fuel hatred and extremism and undermine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.The statement also criticized restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and its places of worship, saying discriminatory measures limiting access violate international law, including international humanitarian law, and represent an attempt to alter the historic and legal status quo.The ministers reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites and condemned the continued Israeli measures aimed at changing the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem.They reiterated their rejection of any attempt to alter the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites and emphasized the importance of preserving the historic Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy places.The ministers stressed that the entire 144-dunum compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims and reaffirmed that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the sole legal authority responsible for administering the site and regulating access.They called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately remove restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City, refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque and halt actions they said violate the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites.The ministers also urged the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to end the ongoing violations and illegal practices against the holy sites in Jerusalem.