Ben-Gvir Al-Aqsa Visit Condemned

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have jointly condemned Israel's repeated violations of the historic and legal status quo at Jerusalem's Islamic and Christian holy sites. This condemnation follows an incursion by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, where he claimed ownership and sought greater access for Jewish worshippers. The ministers denounced these actions, including the raising of Israeli flags within the mosque courtyards, as flagrant violations of international law and provocations to Muslims worldwide. They reaffirmed that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is exclusively for Muslim worship and that the Jerusalem Endowments Department, affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf, holds sole administrative authority. Additionally, the ministers condemned accelerating Israeli settlement activity, including the approval of over 30 new settlement units, and escalating settler violence in the West Bank, describing these as violations of international law and UN Security Council resolutions. They rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement of Palestinians, warning that such measures undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state and efforts toward a two-state solution. The international community is urged to intervene and compel Israel to halt its illegal practices and intensify efforts for a comprehensive political settlement.