Capitals, July 24 (SANA) The foreign ministers of eight Arab and Muslim countries on Thursday condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and thousands of Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli security forces.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt described the raid as an escalation that violated international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and the longstanding historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites in Jerusalem.
The ministers also condemned the incitement, calls to organize mass raids on the compound and acts of violence by Israeli ministers and extremist groups, warning that such actions undermine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution.
The statement said Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its Muslim and Christian holy sites, stressing that Israeli authorities are pursuing measures aimed at altering the city’s historical, legal and demographic character.
The ministers called on the international community to take a firm stance and press Israel to end ongoing violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Separately, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the storming, saying it violated the historical and legal status quo at the site and provoked the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.
The OIC said the entire Al-Haram Al-Sharif compound is an exclusively Muslim place of worship and rejected any Israeli measures aimed at changing its historical or legal status, calling for urgent international action to halt what it described as Israeli violations.
Earlier on Thursday, more than 3,200 Israeli settlers, led by Ben-Gvir, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under Israeli police protection and performed religious rituals inside the site. The Palestinian presidency condemned the act, saying it was intended to alter the status quo at the compound.
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