LONDON: Foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries condemned Israel on Thursday over “escalating actions” after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined thousands of extremist Jews in one of the largest incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia issued a joint statement denouncing “provocative acts” at the holy site, including the raising of the Israeli flag inside the mosque compound and the installation of two police tents.
They said that the large-scale settler incursions under Israeli police protection, along with the other measures, were “blatant violations” of international law that aimed to alter the historic and legal status quo governing the site.
The statement came after more than 2,500 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compound on Thursday during the Jewish fast of Tisha B’Av.
Israeli police tightened restrictions around Jerusalem’s Old City and prevented many Palestinian worshippers from entering the mosque, while groups of settlers performed religious rituals inside the compound.
