LONDON/DUBAI: Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan have strongly condemned the storming of the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, including the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards.
Qatar, through a foreign affairs ministry statement, stressed that Al-Aqsa Mosque is an “exclusively Muslim place of worship and that all unilateral measures aimed at altering the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its sanctities are null and void under international law.”
A continuation of such violations and repeated provocations could fuel further violence and escalation in the region, the statement added.
In a statement, the UAE mentioned that the settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police, considering these actions as “a provocation and an unacceptable act of extremism.”
The UAE foriegn ministry statement emphasized the need to respect the historical and legal status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque and ensure the protection of all holy sites.
It also held the “Israeli authorities responsible for halting these escalatory actions and called for the implementation of efforts to avoid exacerbating tensions and instability in the region.”
Jordan has also condemned the incident and described the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque as “provocative and reckless”.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Jordan’s absolute rejection and strong condemnation of the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers, according to the Petra news agency.
On Sunday, settlers raised Israeli flags on the steps leading to the Dome of the Rock, chanting and singing the Israeli national anthem under the protection of the police. They entered the compound from Al-Maghrabah Gate, which is fully controlled by Israeli authorities.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, has witnessed frequent clashes — including Israeli settler raids and restrictions on Muslim worshippers — since East Jerusalem was occupied in June 1967.
The mosque is administered by Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, which holds the legal authority to manage the compound and control access. Jordan cautioned against settlers’ efforts to create a new reality that would temporally and spatially divide the landmark.
Settlers, who refer to the area as the Temple Mount, seek to establish a presence in the compound to perform Jewish prayers at certain times. Several Israeli ministers publicly endorsed these plans, including Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister.
