Tensions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound have resurfaced, drawing strong condemnations from a coalition of eight Arab and Muslim-majority nations. The recent incursions by Israeli settlers, framed by local authorities as part of religious observances, reveal deep-seated frustrations over longstanding grievances and highlight the urgent need for a renewed dialogue centered on peace and mutual respect.
In a significant diplomatic response, foreign ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and the United Arab Emirates have collectively condemned the recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem by far-right groups and thousands of Israeli settlers. In a joint statement released on Thursday, they denounced what they termed “mass incursions by settlers led by extremist Israeli ministers into the Noble Sanctuary” of Al-Aqsa, which is recognized as the third holiest site in Islam.
The ministers pointed out that these actions occurred under the protection of Israeli police forces, highlighting a troubling aspect of the situation. The statement emphasized that such provocative actions only serve to fuel hatred and extremism, further obstructing the path toward a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. The diplomats characterized the incursion as “an unlawful attempt to alter the historical and legal status quo” of Jerusalem’s holy sites, asserting that “Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.”
The incursion involved over 4,200 Israeli settlers and far-right members who converged on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday in what was one of the most significant invasions of the year, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av. Notably, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also participated in this action, again under heavy police protection.
Palestinian officials reported increased restrictions imposed by Israeli forces at the mosque’s gates, including barring many Palestinian worshippers and students from entry, as well as instances of assault on individuals present at the site. This ongoing situation deepens the historical context, as Israel had seized control of East Jerusalem during the 1967 conflict and subsequently annexed the territory in 1980. In a landmark ruling in 2024, the International Court of Justice affirmed that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, remains illegal under international law.
Currently, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is managed under a status quo arrangement by the Jerusalem Waqf, a body appointed by Jordan. The events of Thursday coincided with Tisha B’Av, a Jewish day of mourning commemorating the destruction of ancient temples that, according to religious beliefs, once stood where Muslims revere the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The joint statement condemned “the illegal and extremist acts represented by incitement and calls to mobilise incursions, as well as acts of violence committed by Israeli ministers and extremist groups.” Furthermore, it urged the Israeli government, as the occupying authority, to immediately lift the restrictions imposed on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The ministers also called on the international community to take a decisive stance to compel Israel to cease its ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian sites and reaffirm the sanctity of these revered places.
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