Joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

The Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Turkey, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Qatar condemn in the strongest terms the continued incursions of Israeli extremist settlers into the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/the Holy Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag inside its courtyards. They affirm that these provocative and unacceptable actions constitute a blatant violation of international law. The relevant United Nations resolutions, and the existing historical and legal situation in the holy sites in East Jerusalem and occupied East Jerusalem.

The Foreign Ministers also condemn the continued violations and systematic and illegal measures implemented by the Israeli authorities, the occupying power, aimed at changing the historical, legal and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem, and desecrating and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian sanctities.

They reaffirm their categorical rejection of any attempts to change the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sanctities, and stress the need to preserve it, while acknowledging the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard. The ministers also reiterate that the entire area of ​​the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Aqsa Mosque, amounting to 144 dunums, is a pure place of worship for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sanctities is the legal body with the exclusive jurisdiction to manage all the affairs of the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Aqsa Mosque and regulate entry to it.

The Ministers hold the Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory measures and warn that repeated Israeli violations exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, and undermine international efforts aimed at achieving peace. They also constitute a clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international law. They call for an immediate cessation of all these illegal and provocative Israeli practices, and reaffirm the necessity of respecting the historical and legal status quo in the entire Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

The Foreign Ministers reaffirm their firm solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfast support for achieving their legitimate and inalienable national rights, foremost among which is their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They also renew their support for all efforts aimed at ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.