ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of the eight Arab-Islamic states on Friday strongly condemned the Israeli escalation at Al Aqsa Mosque, particularly the continued mass settlers’ incursions led by extremist Israeli ministers, into the holy place under the protection of the Israeli forces.

The foreign ministers, in a statement, also condemned the raising of the Israeli flag within courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the erection by Israeli police of two tents, and all other inflammatory acts.

The foreign ministers, who issued a joint statements included those of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

They stressed that these provocative and unacceptable actions constituted a flagrant violation of international law, the relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers deplored and strongly condemned the illegal and extremist acts of incitement, incursions’ mobilization calls and violence by Israeli extremist ministers and groups, besides warning that these provocative actions fueled hatred and extremism, and obstructed efforts to advance a just and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution.

They said that the restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship coupled with discriminatory and arbitrary access restrictions to the other places of worship in the Old City constituted a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and an unlawful attempt to alter the historical and legal status quo.

They stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The foreign ministers further condemned the continued and systematic violations and measures carried out by Israel, the occupying power, aimed at altering the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

They reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and stress on its preservation while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard.

The ministers reiterated that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Sharif, which amounted to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, was the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and to regulate entry thereto.

They called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately remove access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to the Mosque.

They also called on the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.