ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and six other Muslim countries have condemned the repeated violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli occupation authorities in Jerusalem.
The Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in a joint statement carried by the Pakistan Foreign Office on Thursday, slammed the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.
“The Ministers reiterated that these provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and represent an unacceptable provocation to Muslims around the world, and a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the holy city,” it said.
The ministers reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem, including its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and stressed the importance of preserving it while recognising the special role of the Hashemite custodianship.
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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, 23 April, 2026
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 23, 2026
They reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif compound, spanning 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
They also emphasised that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing the site and regulating access.
The ministers further condemned the acceleration of illegal settlement activities, including Israel’s approval of more than 30 new settlements, describing it as a clear violation of international law, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
They also denounced the ongoing and increasing violence by illegal settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks targeting schools and children, and called for accountability.
Reaffirming their position, they stressed that Israel holds no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement of the Palestinian population.
“The Ministers stressed that such actions constitute a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian State and on the implementation of the two-State solution, increase tensions, undermine peace efforts, and hinder ongoing initiatives aimed at de-escalation and the restoration of stability,” the statement said.
The ministers reiterated their call for the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank, and to put an end to its illegal practices.
The ministers urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities by taking clear and decisive action to stop these violations.
They also called for intensified regional and global efforts to advance a political solution that delivers a comprehensive peace based on the two-state framework.
Reaffirming their steadfast support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the ministers underscored the importance of self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
