CAIRO, July 24, 2026 (WAFA) — Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Islamic countries condemned Israel’s escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, including continued incursions by Israeli colonists led by extremist Israeli ministers under the protection of Israeli police, the raising of the Israeli flag inside the compound, and other provocative actions.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar said in a joint statement issued on Friday that these unacceptable escalatory actions constitute a blatant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historic and legal status quo at the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers strongly condemned illegal and extremist acts, including incitement, calls to organize incursions, and acts of violence carried out by Israeli ministers and extremist groups. They warned that such provocative actions fuel hatred and extremism and obstruct efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution.

The statement said restrictions imposed on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, along with discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions on access to other religious sites, constitute grave violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as illegal attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo.

The ministers affirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

They also condemned the continued violations and systematic measures carried out by Israel, as the occupying power, aimed at changing the historic, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The ministers reiterated their rejection of any attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, stressing the need to preserve it and reaffirming the special role of the Hashemite custodianship in this regard.

They affirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, covering 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites is the legally authorized body responsible for administering all affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and regulating access to it.

The ministers called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque.

They also called on the international community to take firm action to compel Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

M.N