Foreign ministers from Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Thursday condemned repeated Israeli violations of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

In a joint statement, the ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates denounced incursions by Israeli settlers and “extremist ministers” into the mosque compound under police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.

They said such actions constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law and international humanitarian law, and an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide.

The ministers reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the status quo in Jerusalem’s holy sites and stressed the need to preserve it. They also recognised the special role of Jordan’s Hashemite custodianship in administering the site.

The statement emphasised that the entire Al-Aqsa compound, spanning 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. It added that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, holds exclusive legal authority to manage the site and regulate access.

The ministers also condemned Israel’s expanding settlement activity, including the approval of more than 30 new settlements, calling it a violation of international law, UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

They criticised rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability.

Reiterating that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the ministers rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement of Palestinians.

They warned that continued actions risk undermining the viability of a Palestinian state, escalating tensions and derailing efforts to restore stability.

The ministers urged the international community to take “clear and decisive steps” to halt the violations and intensify efforts toward a comprehensive political solution based on a two-state framework.

They reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.