By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on Friday issued a joint statement strongly condemning what they described as Israel's escalating actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

The ministers denounced continued incursions by Israeli settlers, led by what they called extremist Israeli ministers, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif under Israeli security protection. They also condemned the raising of the Israeli flag inside the compound, the erection of two police tents, and other actions they said violated international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo governing the holy site.

The group further condemned what it described as incitement, mobilization for settler incursions, and violence by Israeli extremist ministers and groups, warning that such actions fuel hatred, increase tensions and undermine efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

The ministers also criticized restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and its religious sites, saying the measures violate international humanitarian law and amount to attempts to alter the historical and legal status of occupied East Jerusalem.

Reaffirming that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites, the ministers accused Israel of pursuing policies aimed at changing the city's historical, legal and demographic character.

The joint statement reiterated support for preserving the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites and recognized the special role of Jordan's Hashemite custodianship. It also reaffirmed that the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is an exclusively Muslim place of worship and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, has exclusive authority to administer the site.

The ministers called on Israel to immediately lift restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and allow Muslim worshippers unhindered access to Al-Aqsa Mosque. They also urged the international community to take firm action to compel Israel to halt what they described as ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers following consultations among the eight Arab-Islamic countries, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.