Widespread condemnation led by the Kingdom against the incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with seven other Arab and Islamic countries, strongly condemned the continued incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist settlers under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. This collective stance included the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, who affirmed their categorical rejection of these provocative practices that offend the feelings of Muslims worldwide and violate relevant international laws.
Serious repercussions from the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
The joint statement issued by the eight countries clarified that raising the Israeli flag within the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound constitutes a flagrant violation of the historical and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem. The ministers warned that these systematic and illegal violations aim to alter the demographic and cultural character of the holy city and undermine the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites, necessitating a firm international stance to end these ongoing transgressions.
Historical roots and Hashemite custodianship of holy sites
These condemnations come within a long history of joint Arab and Islamic defense of Jerusalem's identity and Arab character. The blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, according to successive international resolutions. In this context, the ministers emphasized the paramount importance of the historical Hashemite custodianship that Jordan holds for the protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, affirming that the Jordanian Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department is the sole legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction over the management of the Haram al-Sharif (Temple Mount) and regulating access to it.
Regional repercussions and calls for urgent international action
At the regional and international levels, the ministers warned that the repetition of these provocations contributes to fueling anger and extremism, threatening to undermine all international efforts aimed at reviving the peace process and achieving a two-state solution. The eight countries reiterated their unwavering solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people and their full support for the establishment of their independent and sovereign state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
