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Eight Countries Issue Joint Statement on Jerusalem Holy Sites and Settlements
Foreign ministers from eight countries released a joint statement addressing actions at holy sites in Jerusalem and settlement activities in the occupied territories. The statement highlighted concerns over the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque and called for adherence to international law. It also expressed support for a two-state solution and Palestinian rights.
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Foreign ministers from Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on April 23, 2026, regarding actions at holy sites in Jerusalem. The statement addressed Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif, describing them as violations of the historic and legal status quo.
It noted incursions into the compound under police protection and the raising of Israeli flags within its courtyards.
The ministers stated that the entire 144-dunam compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims. They specified that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, holds sole authority to administer the site and regulate entry. The statement underscored the role of the Hashemite custodianship in overseeing the sites.
The statement addressed Israel's approval of over 30 new settlements, describing this as a violation of international law, including United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. It also noted violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks targeting Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability.
The ministers stated that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory and rejected attempts to annex it or displace Palestinians.
The statement indicated that such actions affect the viability of a Palestinian state and the two-state solution. It called on the international community to take steps to halt these practices and advance a political solution based on a two-state framework.
