In a powerful display of solidarity, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have issued a joint statement denouncing actions that threaten the historic and legal status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites.
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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, 23 April, 2026
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 23, 2026
The ministers voiced strong condemnation of repeated violations at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli authorities. They expressed particular concern over the increasing incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers, under the protection of Israeli police, including the raising of the Israeli flag within the mosque’s courtyards. They asserted that these actions are not only a flagrant violation of international law but also an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide and a violation of the sanctity of the holy city.
Reaffirming their absolute rejection of any attempts to alter the status quo in Jerusalem, the ministers emphasized the need to preserve it while recognizing the special role of the Hashemite custodianship. They reiterated that the entire area of Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Sharif is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, and the Jerusalem Endowments and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds the sole legal jurisdiction to administer its affairs.
The joint statement also condemned the accelerating illegal settlement activity, including Israel’s decision to approve over 30 new settlements, which violates international law. The ministers denounced the escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and demanded accountability for those responsible.
Stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the ministers categorically rejected any attempts to annex the territory or displace the Palestinian people. They warned that such actions undermine the two-state solution, increase tensions, and hinder peace efforts.
The foreign ministers called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank and end its illegal practices. They urged intensified international efforts to advance a political solution based on the two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines. They also reiterated their unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination.
This statement follows recent events, including the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers and repeated incursions by Israeli officials, which have heightened tensions in the region.
