DOHA, QATAR April 23, 2026 – The Foreign Ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have issued a strong joint statement denouncing what they describe as repeated Israeli violations of the historical and legal status quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, with particular focus on incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In the statement released by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, the ministers condemned “the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif under Israeli police protection, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.” They described these actions as “a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law” and “an unacceptable provocation to Muslims around the world.”
The ministers reaffirmed the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as “a place of worship exclusively for Muslims” and stressed that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds sole jurisdiction over its administration and access. They highlighted the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship in preserving the site’s status quo.
The statement also sharply criticized accelerating Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, including the recent approval of over 30 new settlements. It labeled these moves as violations of international law, UN Security Council resolutions, and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.
Further condemnation was directed at “the continued and escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on Palestinian schools and children.” The ministers called for accountability for those responsible and rejected any Israeli sovereignty claims over occupied Palestinian territory, as well as any attempts at annexation or displacement of Palestinians.
“Such actions constitute a deliberate and direct attack on the viability of the Palestinian State and on the implementation of the two-State solution,” the statement read. The ministers warned that the moves increase tensions, undermine peace efforts, and hinder de-escalation initiatives.
The eight nations urged the international community to “uphold its legal and moral responsibilities” and take “clear and decisive steps” to halt the violations. They called for intensified regional and international efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the two-State solution, with an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines and East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ministers reiterated their “unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination.”
The full statement was posted on the official X account of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@MofaQatar_EN) on Thursday evening.
This joint position reflects growing regional concern over developments in Jerusalem and the West Bank amid ongoing efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.
About The Author
