CAIRO, April 2, 2026 (WAFA) – The Council of the League of Arab States, at the level of permanent representatives, called for coordinated Arab, Islamic, and international action to protect the city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites through political, diplomatic, economic, and legal measures.
The call came in resolutions issued at the conclusion of an extraordinary session held on Thursday at the League’s headquarters in Cairo, chaired by Bahrain at the request of the State of Palestine and with the support of all Arab countries. The meeting addressed Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem, including restrictions on holy sites, the approval of a law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners, and the ongoing Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.
The council urged the international community, including the UN Security Council, to take a firm stance compelling Israel to halt its violations and policies in Jerusalem and to comply with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
It also called for placing Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, along with members of their parties, on international, regional, and national terrorism lists.
The council warned against the continued Israeli blockade of Jerusalem’s Old City, restrictions on access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, and what it described as government-backed incursions by settler groups, alongside excavation activities beneath the mosque. It said such actions indicate dangerous intentions to impose Israeli sovereignty over the site and alter its status.
It further condemned Israeli measures targeting the Christian presence in Jerusalem and restricting freedom of worship in churches, describing them as violations of the city’s legal and historical status and of international agreements.
The council reaffirmed the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and stressed that Al-Aqsa Mosque, in its entirety, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims under the administration of the Jordanian Waqf.
Additionally, it condemned Israeli policies aimed at undermining the work of UNRWA, including efforts to close its offices and schools in Jerusalem, calling for increased political, legal, and financial support to the agency.
The council rejected any decisions that alter the legal status of Jerusalem, including the relocation of diplomatic missions to the city, and warned that such moves would violate international law and harm relations with Arab states.
It also strongly condemned the Israeli law permitting the execution of Palestinian prisoners, describing it as a serious violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The council held Israel, the occupying power, fully responsible for the legal and humanitarian consequences of the law, stating that its application exclusively to Palestinians reflects systemic discrimination and undermines their fundamental rights.
It called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council, to take urgent action to compel Israel to repeal the law, release all prisoners and detainees, and adhere to international legal standards governing the treatment of detainees.
The council further urged the International Criminal Court to open an immediate investigation into the law and pursue accountability for Israeli officials.
It also called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to intensify its efforts to gain unrestricted access to Israeli detention facilities.
The statement concluded with a call for Arab and international parliamentary bodies to work toward suspending the membership of the Israeli Knesset in international parliamentary unions and to impose punitive measures in response to its legislation.
The Palestinian delegation to the session was headed by Palestine's representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Muhannad Al-Aklouk.
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