Doha, April 23 (QNA) - The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemned the repeated violations of the historical and legal status quo of the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem by the Israeli occupation authorities, particularly the ongoing incursions into Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers under the protection of the Israeli police, along with the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.

In a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed that these provocative actions at Al Aqsa Mosque constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and represent an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide, and a blatant violation of the sanctity of the holy city.

The ministers stressed their categorical rejection of any attempts to change the existing historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, emphasizing the need to preserve it, while acknowledging the special role of the historic Hashemite custodianship in this regard.

The ministers also reaffirmed that the entire area of ​​the Al Aqsa Mosque, which amounts to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, is the legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction in managing the affairs of the mosque and regulating entry to it.

The ministers condemned all illegal settlement activities, including Israel's decision to approve more than 30 new settlements, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.

The ministers also condemned the escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on Palestinian schools and children, urging those responsible to be held accountable.

They stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory, affirming their absolute rejection of any attempts to annex it or displace the Palestinian people.

The ministers emphasized that these measures represent a direct and systematic attack on the viability of the Palestinian state and on the implementation of the two-state solution. They also fuel tensions, undermine peace efforts, and obstruct ongoing initiatives aimed at de-escalation and restoring stability.

The ministers reiterated their call to the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities, and to compel Israel to halt its dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank and put an end to its illegal practices.

The ministers urged the international community to assume its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to halt these violations, and to intensify all regional and international efforts to advance a political solution that achieves comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. The ministers also reiterated their unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state within the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. (QNA)