The joint statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye and the Arab Republic of Egypt detailed their strongest condemnation of continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, under the protection of Israeli forces. The ministers denounced the raising of the Israeli flag within the mosque’s courtyards, describing the moves as provocative and unacceptable. They determined that these actions amount to a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the historical as well as legal status quo at the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
The statement further condemned the continued and systematic violations and measures carried out by Israel as the occupying power, which it said were aimed at altering the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem. Such steps undermine the sanctity and status of the area’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, according to the ministers. They stressed that the full area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, spanning 144 dunams, serves as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
The ministers noted in their declaration that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which falls under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, retains sole legal jurisdiction to administer the mosque’s affairs and regulate entry. They placed direct responsibility on Israeli authorities to halt the escalatory actions. Repeated violations of this kind exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism while undermining international peace efforts and breaching Israel’s obligations under international law, the statement added.
The foreign ministers called for an immediate cessation of all such Israeli illegal and provocative practices in the joint statement. They reaffirmed the imperative to respect the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque in its entirety. Similar coordinated positions have appeared in subsequent declarations by the same group addressing developments across the Palestinian territories.
The ministers reiterated their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people through the statement and expressed steadfast support for the realization of their legitimate national rights. Foremost among these rights is self-determination and the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The declaration aligns with longstanding regional diplomatic efforts centered on international law and relevant United Nations frameworks.
Emirates News Agency published the joint statement, which originated from a meeting of the eight ministers. The text stopped short of announcing new policy measures but underscored the participants’ unified stance on preserving the character of Jerusalem’s holy sites. Comparable joint statements by these nations have addressed related issues in Gaza and the broader peace process in the months following this declaration.
