Eight Arab-Islamic states condemn Al-Aqsa incursions

ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of eight Arab-Islamic countries on Tuesday strongly denounced what they described as continuing incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, along with the raising of the Israeli flag inside the mosque’s courtyards.

In a joint statement, Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the actions were provocative and unacceptable. They said the incidents amounted to a clear breach of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The joint statement also condemned what the ministers called Israel’s continued and systematic violations and measures in occupied East Jerusalem. It said those steps were aimed at changing the city’s historical, legal and demographic character and at undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy places.

The eight countries reiterated their complete rejection of any effort to alter the longstanding historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. They also stressed the need to preserve that status while recognising the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard.