Amman, Apr. 23 (Petra)-- The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, have strongly condemned repeated violations by Israeli occupation authorities against the historic and legal status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the ministers particularly denounced the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif under the protection of Israeli police, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag inside its courtyards.

They stressed that such provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, describing them as an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide and a serious violation of the sanctity of the holy city.

The ministers firmly rejected any attempts to alter the historic and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, emphasizing the need to preserve it while recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite Custodianship in this regard.

They reaffirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which spans 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They also stressed that the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing the mosque’s affairs and regulating entry to it.

The ministers also condemned all illegal settlement activities, including Israel’s approval of more than 30 new settlements, describing the move as a flagrant violation of international law, including United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

They further denounced the escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks targeting Palestinian schools and children, and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

The ministers stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories and reiterated their absolute rejection of any attempts to annex the land or forcibly displace the Palestinian people.

They warned that these measures constitute a direct and systematic assault on the viability of the Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution, while also fueling tensions, undermining peace efforts, and obstructing ongoing initiatives aimed at de-escalation and restoring stability.

The ministers called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank and end its illegal practices.

They also urged clear and decisive international action to stop these violations and intensify regional and global efforts toward achieving a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.

The ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

//Petra// MF