Written by: Badr Ahmed

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 Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar condemn in the strongest terms the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.

Arab and Islamic consensus rejects changing the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque

They affirm that these provocative and unacceptable actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites in East Jerusalem and occupied East Jerusalem.

The foreign ministers also condemn the continued violations and systematic and illegal measures carried out by the Israeli authorities, the occupying power, aimed at changing the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem, and desecrating and undermining 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 the necessity of preserving it, while acknowledging the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard. The ministers also reiterate that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif, comprising 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, is the legally recognized and exclusively authorized body to manage all affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif and regulate entry to it.

The ministers hold the Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory measures and warn that repeated Israeli violations exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, and undermine international efforts to achieve peace. They also constitute a clear breach of Israel’s obligations under international law. They call for an immediate end to all these illegal and provocative Israeli practices and reaffirm the need to respect the historical and legal status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram al-Sharif in its entirety.

The foreign ministers reaffirm their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfast support for the realization of their legitimate and inalienable national rights, foremost among them their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also reiterate their support for all efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.