Story perspectives

Eight Muslim Nations Condemn Al-Aqsa Settlement Intrusion

4/24/2026

Summary

Muslim Ministers Condemn

On April 23 2026, foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries condemned Israeli settlers’ incursions and flag-raising at Al-Aqsa.
They called the actions illegal violations of law and United Nations resolutions.
They noted Israel’s approval of 30 settlements and that the 144-dunam Al-Aqsa site is a Muslim worship place.
They urged the international community to stop violations and push a two-state solution on the June 4 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as capital.

Summary

Ministers Condemn Violence

Muslims entered Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers on 10 April 2026 after a 40-day Israeli-imposed closure.
On 23 April 2026, foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) released a joint statement.
The ministers condemned attacks on Palestinian schools and children in the occupied West Bank as escalating violence.
They denounced the raising of Israeli flags inside the compound as an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide.

Summary

Saudi-Qatari Condemn

Saudi and Qatari foreign ministers issued a joint condemnation of Israel’s settlement approvals on April 23 2026.
The statement invoked the 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, asserting that approval of over 30 new settlements violates international law.
They reaffirmed Jordanian exclusive jurisdiction over the 144-dunam holy compound and urged decisive international action to halt what they describe as a systematic attack on a viable Palestinian state and the two-state solution.

Summary

Knesset joins settlers

Israeli Knesset members joined settlers in police-protected incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, per a joint statement.
The statement, issued through Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cited violations of international and humanitarian law and reaffirmed the 144-dunam Al-Aqsa compound as an exclusive Muslim worship site administered by the Jerusalem Waqf under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf.
They called on the international community to halt settlement approvals and protect the holy sites.

History

Historical Context

United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, adopted on November 22, 1967, called for Israel's withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six-Day War, emphasizing a just peace in the Middle East. This resolution has influenced subsequent peace negotiations, including the two-state solution framework. Recent condemnations from Türkiye, Egypt, and other Muslim-majority nations reflect ongoing tensions surrounding Israeli settlements and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, complicating efforts for regional stability.

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Muslim Ministers Condemn

On April 23 2026, foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries condemned Israeli settlers’ incursions and flag-raising at Al-Aqsa.
They called the actions illegal violations of law and United Nations resolutions.
They noted Israel’s approval of 30 settlements and that the 144-dunam Al-Aqsa site is a Muslim worship place.
They urged the international community to stop violations and push a two-state solution on the June 4 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as capital.

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