Indonesia, Saudi Arabia to Turkey Condemn Israel's Repeated Violations at Al Aqsa Mosque Complex

JAKARTA - Indonesia together with seven Islamic countries or Muslim-majority countries condemned the repeated violations committed by Israel at the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex located in the Old City of Jerusalem (East Jerusalem), Palestine.

The joint criticism came following the latest action taken by hundreds of Israeli occupation residents who forced their way into the complex, to then perform religious rituals until the Israeli flag was raised on Wednesday.

"The foreign ministers of Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemn the repeated violations committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against the historical and legal status quo at Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, especially the continued attacks by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers on Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif under the protection of the Israeli police, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag on its grounds," the statement read, launching the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's statement, Friday (24/4).

Furthermore, the Foreign Ministers "reaffirmed that provocative actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif are a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as an unacceptable provocation for Muslims around the world and a serious violation of the sanctity of the holy city.

The statement reiterated the foreign ministers' rejection "of any attempt to change the historical and legal status in Jerusalem and the Islamic and Christian holy sites, and stressed the importance of maintaining this status, recognizing the special role of the historic Hashemite custodians in this regard."

Hundreds of Israeli occupation residents stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police on Wednesday, with about 508 people forcing their way in in the morning, according to the Islamic Waqf, the complex's management, which is under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, quoted by Anadolu.

The Islamic Waqf said some people wore shirts with the image of the Israeli flag, others waved the Israeli flag as families passed through one of the mosque's doors.

"The ministers reiterated that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif, covering 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Waqf Department and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs, affiliated with the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs Jordan, are legal entities with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulate access to it," the joint statement read.

"The ministers also condemned the acceleration of illegal settlement activities, including Israel's decision to approve more than 30 new settlements, which are a clear violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice's 2024 Fatwa," he continued.

"The ministers also condemned the ongoing and escalating violence committed by settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including the recent attacks on Palestinian schools and children, and called for those responsible to be held accountable," the statement said.

The joint statement also said that the foreign ministers stressed that "Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The ministers also firmly reject any attempt to annex the Occupied Palestinian Territory or forcibly transfer the Palestinian people."

The foreign ministers assessed that these actions were "a deliberate and direct attack on the continuity of the Palestinian state and on the implementation of the Two-State Solution, increasing tensions, undermining peace efforts, and hindering ongoing initiatives aimed at de-escalation and restoring stability."

Since the beginning of April, raids on the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex have been repeated and increased, with Israeli occupation residents performing public rituals inside the complex.

Last week, Israeli National Security Minister and right-wing politician Itamar Ben-Gvir performed a Talmud ritual with residents of the occupation.

The action, which was considered provocative last week, was the third he had carried out this year or the 16th since taking office in 2022.

"The ministers again call on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and urge Israel to stop the dangerous escalation in the occupied West Bank and end its illegal practices," the joint statement read.

It is known that the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex is the third holiest site in the world for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming that it is the location of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Under the status quo rules, only Muslims are allowed to worship at the Al Aqsa Mosque Complex. Meanwhile, Jews and non-Muslims are only allowed to visit but are prohibited from worshiping.

"The Ministers call on the international community to carry out its responsibilities and take concrete and decisive steps to stop the violations. They also call on the international community to intensify all regional and international efforts to encourage a political solution to achieve comprehensive peace based on the Two-State Solution. The Ministers reaffirmed their full support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in particular the right to self-determination and the realization of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital," the statement said.