Full Breakdown
Eight Muslim-Majority Nations Condemn Israeli Violations at Jerusalem’s Holy Sites
4/25/2026, 8:14:41 AM
Joint Condemnation of Status-Quo Violations
On 23-24 April 2026 the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement denouncing repeated breaches of the status-quo at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif compound.
Background, Data & On-the-Ground Reports
The 144-dunam Al-Aqsa compound is administered by the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. In early April, Israeli settlers entered through the Mughrabi Gate, performed Talmudic prayers, raised an Israeli flag; video footage circulated. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the site on 6 April and again on 13 April, and reports say he has stormed the compound about 14 times since his 2023 appointment. Israel has approved over 30 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Official Statements & Responses
The ministers called settler incursions and flag-raising “provocative actions” that amount to a “flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.” They reaffirm Israel has no sovereignty over Occupied Palestinian Territory, reject annexation, and urge international community to fulfill legal and moral duties, halt “dangerous escalation” in West Bank, and intensify diplomatic work toward a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as capital of future Palestinian state.
Criticism & Opposition
The ministers called the incursions a provocation to Muslims and a flagrant violation of international law.
Why It Matters
The violations threaten the status-quo that underpins peace efforts, undermine the viability of a Palestinian state, and breach United Nations Security Council resolutions and 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, raising concerns under international law.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources detail the condemnation and incidents but give no Israeli official response or verification of the number of new settlements approved, leaving those points unconfirmed.
Verbatim Quotes
- "The entire area of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Sharif, which amounts to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims." — Joint statement of the eight foreign ministers
- "Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory." — Joint statement of the eight foreign ministers
- "The ministers called upon the international community to assume its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to halt these violations." — Joint statement of the eight foreign ministers
- "Unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and to realise the independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital." — Joint statement of the eight foreign ministers
- "He has stormed the mosque approximately 14 times since assuming his position in 2023, as part of an escalating policy towards the mosque." — Report on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir
What’s Next
The ministers urged the United Nations, regional bodies and individual states to adopt decisive measures to stop further incursions, halt settlement expansion, and advance negotiations toward a comprehensive two-state peace agreement.
