June 3, 2026 | 10:05 pm
Al-Aqsa Mosque (the grey-domed mosque) in the Old City of Jerusalem, Palestine, on March 26, 2023. The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, the first qibla of Muslims, is a spiritual center and a world archaeological masterpiece. The iconic gold-plated Dome of the Rock and the ancient calligraphy decorating its interior make Al-Aqsa a symbol of the steadfastness and eternal beauty of Islamic art in Palestine. Shutterstock
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the continued attacks by extremist Israeli settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces and the raising of the Israeli flag in the courtyard of the mosque.According to a written statement on the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' X account on Wednesday, the foreign ministers stated that the action was unacceptable and a violation of international law, the historical status quo, and the law on holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem, as quoted by ANTARA.They condemned the systematic violations and actions carried out by Israel aimed at changing the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites there. “They reaffirmed their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites there, and stress on its preservation while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard,” the statement quoted.The ministers reiterated that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which covers 14.4 hectares, is a special place of worship for Muslims.They stated that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, is the legal body with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and regulate access to it.The foreign ministers urged Israeli authorities to take responsibility and halt these escalatory actions, warning that repeated Israeli violations could exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, undermine international efforts to achieve peace, and constitute a flagrant violation of Israel's obligations under international law.“They call for an immediate cessation of all such Israeli illegal and provocative practices and reaffirm the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif in its entirety,” the joint statement said.The foreign ministers reiterated their full solidarity with the Palestinian people and their support for their legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.They also affirmed their support for various efforts to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just, sustainable, and comprehensive peace through a two-state solution in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.It was previously reported that Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on May 31, 2026, under the protection of Israeli police and raised the Israeli flag in the courtyard of the mosque.Read: Israeli Official's ILO Address Disrupted by ProtestsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
