The foreign ministers of Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority nations have issued a joint statement strongly rejecting any attempt to alter the historic and legal status of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
In the statement released on Thursday, the ministers condemned what they described as repeated violations of the longstanding status quo at the city’s sacred locations. They criticized ongoing incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist officials into Al Aqsa Mosque (Al Haram Al Sharif), carried out under Israeli police protection, as well as the display of Israeli flags within the mosque compound.
The joint declaration was issued by Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It described the actions at the holy sites as a “flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law” and an unacceptable provocation to Muslims worldwide.
The ministers reiterated their categorical rejection of any effort to change the historic or legal status of Jerusalem and stressed the need to preserve existing arrangements. They also reaffirmed recognition of Jordan’s special role under the Hashemite custodianship of Islamic holy sites in the city.
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The statement emphasized that the entire 144-dunam Al Aqsa compound is exclusively a Muslim place of worship. It said the Jerusalem Endowments and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, operating under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, remains the sole legitimate authority responsible for administering the site and regulating access.
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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, 23 April, 2026
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) April 23, 2026
The ministers also condemned what they said was an acceleration in illegal settlement activity, citing Israel’s approval of more than 30 new settlements. They said these moves violate international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and a 2024 advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice.
In addition, the statement denounced rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including attacks on Palestinian schools and children, and called for accountability for those responsible.
The foreign ministers stressed that Israel holds no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and rejected any attempts at annexation or forced displacement. Such actions, they warned, undermine the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, fuel instability, and obstruct peace efforts.
The statement reaffirmed support for Palestinian rights, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
