A coalition of eight nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, Qatar, and Pakistan, has issued a sharp rebuke regarding the recent uptick in tensions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The foreign ministers of these countries highlighted deep concern over provocative incursions by extremist Israeli officials and settlers, which have been facilitated by police protection. They described these actions—ranging from the raising of flags to the setting up of unauthorized structures within the sanctuary—as blatant breaches of international law and a direct assault on the long-standing legal status quo of Jerusalem’s holy sites.

Beyond the physical incursions, the group strongly denounced the inflammatory rhetoric and calls for violence currently being fueled by certain Israeli ministers. They emphasized that such behavior serves only to deepen extremism and obstruct any viable path toward a peaceful two-state solution. Furthermore, the ministers rejected any claims of Israeli sovereignty over the sacred compound, asserting that the site remains an exclusive place of worship for Muslims under the historical guardianship of the Hashemite Custodianship. They urged the international community to take decisive action to compel Israel to end these systematic violations and restore unrestricted access to these historic religious sites.