ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Aamir Khan, Pakistan's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), condemned Israel's new far-right national security minister's visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound as he spoke for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the UN Security Council, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
Israel's new far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, angered Palestinians and US allies in the Arab world, when he visited the Al-Aqsa compound on Tuesday. The mosque is one of the most revered places of worship for Muslims around the world.
Western governments, including Washington, also condemned the incident, warning that such moves threaten the fragile status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites.
Al-Aqsa mosque is the most revered site for Jews. Under a longstanding status quo, non-Muslims can visit the site at specific times but are not allowed to pray there.
"We strongly demand that such acts have to be stopped and they have to be stopped forthwith," Khan was quoted as saying by the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
"We have to deal with such situations with the strength and the force of international law."
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The OIC group met prior to the UN Security Council meeting at the request of Palestine's permanent observer to the UN, Ambassador Riaz Mansour, and strongly condemned Ben-Gvir's action, Khan said.
Pakistan's foreign office previously also condemned the Israeli minister's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, calling on the Jewish state to respect the sanctity of Muslim religious sites.
Islamabad said the violation of the mosque's sanctity offends the religious sentiments of Muslims around the world, reiterating its support for a viable, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state.
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and has repeatedly called for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
