The foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries have condemned a mass raid on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque by thousands of Israeli ultranationalists. In a joint statement posted on social media, the ministers from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia described the incident as "illegal and extremist acts."
The statement said the raid violated international law, United Nations resolutions, and the long-standing status quo at the holy site in occupied East Jerusalem. The ministers also rejected Israeli claims over the city and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, warning that such actions fuel hatred and obstruct peace efforts based on a two-state solution.
The raid, which took place on Thursday, was led by Israeli government ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Israeli forces reportedly barred many Palestinians from entering the mosque for pre-dawn prayers, forcing them to pray on nearby streets.
The statement urged recognition of Jordan's historic role as custodian of the Al-Aqsa complex. It also called for an end to what it described as attempts to alter the historical and legal character of occupied East Jerusalem.