CAIRO, April 23, 2026 (WAFA) – The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned repeated Israeli violations of the historical and legal status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the ministers denounced ongoing incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist Israeli colonists and ministers, as well as the raising of Israeli flags within its courtyards, describing these actions as provocative and a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
They reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, stressing the need to preserve it, while recognizing the special role of the Jordanian custodianship in this regard.
The ministers reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, spanning 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the sole legal authority responsible for administering the site and regulating access to it.
They also condemned all illegal settlement activities, including Israel’s approval of more than 30 new settlements, describing it as a serious violation of international law, including United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
The statement further denounced the escalation of colonist violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on schools and children, and called for accountability for those responsible.
The ministers stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories and rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement of the Palestinian people.
They warned that such actions undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution, fuel tensions, and hinder efforts aimed at de-escalation and restoring stability.
The ministers called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to take decisive steps to halt these violations, urging intensified regional and international efforts to advance a political solution based on the two-state framework.
They also reaffirmed their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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