Dubai: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt have jointly condemned the recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by hundreds of Jewish settlers, who were under the protection of Israeli forces.
This incident, which occurred on Sunday, saw 430 extremist settlers infiltrate the courtyards of the mosque in occupied Jerusalem, in the latest breach of one of Islam’s holiest sites.
On Tuesday the UAE condemned the action of the settlers and reiterated its stance on the importance of providing enhanced security for Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The UAE's Foreign Ministry in a statement, emphasized the need to uphold Jordan's custodial role over the holy sites and endowments in accordance with international law.
The ministry firmly asserted that no one should be permitted to “compromise the authority of the Jerusalem Endowment Administration and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Furthermore, the UAE called upon Israeli authorities to take responsibility for halting all attacks that could further escalate tensions in the region.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry called the Israeli actions “a blatant violation of all international norms and conventions, and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims across the world.”
The ministry stated that Tel Aviv should be held responsible for the potential consequences of these actions, and urged the international community to assume its responsibilities to protect civilians and seek ways for conflict resolution.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry urged Israel to “immediately stop any actions that would provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world and stoke violence in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
In a joint effort, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the Arab League, Egypt, and Jordan announced the Peace Day Efforts initiative on Monday, during a meeting held in New York on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly.
The gathering was attended by prominent figures such as the Arab League's Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi, and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
“The two-state solution must return to the forefront, we now see a continuing escalation in the occupied territories,” Prince Faisal said after the meeting.
This initiative is part of the broader Arab Peace Initiative, which aims to promote peace and development in the region.