Arab and Muslim states condemn Al Aqsa incursions, urge action against Israel

Cairo/Ankara/Doha: Eight Arab and Muslim-majority countries on Thursday strongly condemned large-scale incursions into the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem by far right groups and thousands of Israeli settlers.

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement denouncing “mass incursions by settlers led by extremist Israeli ministers into the Noble Sanctuary.” The diplomats said the raids occurred under the protection of Israeli police and described the events as “provocative actions” that fuel hatred, encourage extremism and undermine prospects for a just and lasting peace based on a two state solution.

The statement accused those responsible of attempting “to alter the historical and legal status quo” of Jerusalem’s holy sites and reaffirmed that “Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.” It called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift restrictions on access to Al Aqsa and urged the international community to force Israel to halt what the ministers described as ongoing violations and illegal practices at the holy sites.

More than 4,200 settlers and far right activists took part in Thursday’s incursion — one of the largest this year — timed to the Jewish day of mourning Tisha B’Av. Israel’s far right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also entered the compound under heavy police protection.

Palestinian officials said Israeli forces imposed tight controls at the mosque gates, blocked many worshippers and students from entering and physically assaulted several people. Under the current status quo, the Jerusalem Waqf, a Jordanian appointed body, administers the Al Aqsa Mosque.

The statement comes amid continuing international concern over Israeli actions in East Jerusalem. Israel captured the area in 1967 and formally annexed it in 1980; in 2024 the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, breaches international law.