Amman, June 2 (Petra) -- The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt condemned the continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers into the Al Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within the Mosque's courtyards.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the ministers described the actions as provocative and unacceptable, stressing that they constitute a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers denounced what they described as ongoing violations and systematic, illegal measures by the Israeli authorities, aimed at altering the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

They reaffirmed their rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, calling for preserving it. The statement highlighted the special role of the Hashemite Custodianship in safeguarding the holy places.

The ministers reiterated that the entire 144-dunam area of the Al Aqsa Mosque is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They stressed that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department of Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places is the sole legal authority responsible for administering the site and regulating access to it.

The ministers held Israeli authorities responsible for ending what they described as escalatory measures and warned that repeated violations heighten tensions, fuel instability and extremism and undermine international efforts to achieve peace.

They added that such actions constitute a clear breach of Israel's obligations under international law.

The statement called for an immediate halt to all illegal and provocative practices and reaffirmed the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at the Al Aqsa Mosque in its entirety.

The ministers reiterated their unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their legitimate and inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

They reaffirmed support for efforts to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

//Petra// AK