ISLAMABAD – Pakistan and seven other Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned what they described as provocative actions by Israeli ministers and settlers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.
In a joint statement, Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates denounced the reported raising of an Israeli flag within the Al-Aqsa compound and described the actions as a serious provocation.
The statement alleged that extremist Israeli ministers, backed by Israeli security forces, carried out provocative activities inside the mosque compound. It also accused Israeli police of erecting two tents in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa and undertaking other actions that heightened tensions at the site.
The eight countries called for the immediate removal of restrictions on access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites. They urged Israel to refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque and to respect the site’s religious status.
The joint statement further rejected what it described as Israeli attempts to alter the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem. It reiterated that the entire 144-dunum Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is an exclusively Muslim place of worship and affirmed that Jordan’s Islamic Waqf retains sole authority over its administration.
The countries also urged the international community to take effective measures to prevent what they termed Israel’s illegal actions against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
