Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and a group of Jews under Israeli police protection, describing the move as a violation of the established status quo at the holy site.
The condemnations came amid renewed tensions surrounding access and activities at the Al-Aqsa compound, one of the most sensitive religious sites in Jerusalem.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry described the visit as “a blatant violation of the existing historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa and a desecration of its sanctity.”
The ministry said it rejected what it described as visits by Israeli ministers and officials accompanied by Jewish groups, as well as the role of Israeli police in facilitating such visits.
Jordan characterized the actions as violations of international law and international humanitarian law and warned against efforts to establish new realities at the site or introduce what it called temporal and spatial divisions of the mosque.
Amman also reiterated its position that Israel does not have sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or the Muslim and Christian holy sites located there.
The Jordanian government called on the international community to pressure Israel to stop what it described as violations at the compound.
Jordan further emphasized that the entire 144-dunum Al-Aqsa compound is a Muslim place of worship and said the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, remains the authority responsible for administering the site and regulating access under the arrangements cited by Amman.
Gulf States Issue Condemnations
Kuwait also condemned Ben-Gvir’s visit, describing his presence at the compound with a group of Jews under police protection as “a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law and a provocative act.”
Kuwait called for international action to prevent what it described as continued violations and reiterated its support for Palestinian rights.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed its position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Qatar similarly condemned the visit, describing it as “a blatant violation and an unacceptable provocation” that affects the feelings of Muslims around the world.
Doha said unilateral measures aimed at changing what it described as the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites have no validity under international law.
Qatar also warned that continued provocations around the holy sites could contribute to further violence and undermine regional stability.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry joined the condemnation, describing the visit as “a blatant violation and provocation for Muslims around the world.”
Riyadh rejected what it characterized as provocative and unlawful actions by Israeli officials and called on the international community to fulfill its responsibility to prevent violations of international law and international humanitarian law.
Concerns Over Status Quo
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as Haram al-Sharif, remains a major flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian and Jordanian officials have repeatedly warned against attempts to alter arrangements governing the site or introduce separate periods or areas of access for different religious groups.
Visits by Israeli officials and Jewish groups have become particularly contentious during Jewish religious holidays, with Palestinian authorities frequently expressing concern that such activities could alter longstanding arrangements governing worship and access.
Separately, reports indicated that 992 Israeli visitors entered the compound ahead of Yom Kippur, one of Judaism's major religious observances.
The visits occurred against a backdrop of heightened political and religious sensitivities surrounding the site.
Hamas Condemns Netanyahu Statement
Separately, Palestinian group Hamas condemned what it described as an illegal entry by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into areas connected to the Al-Aqsa compound.
In a statement posted on social media, Hamas alleged that Netanyahu entered tunnels and excavation sites beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Al-Buraq Wall while making what the group described as provocative statements.
Hamas characterized the alleged activity as an assault on the identity and status of the Islamic holy site.
“Al-Aqsa Mosque – in its entirety including its courtyards, prayer halls, walls and gates – will remain an exclusively Islamic mosque,” the group said.
Hamas also cited excavations, visits and religious rituals at the site as what it described as attempts to promote a different historical or religious narrative.
“This is an established fact: the occupation's excavations, incursions, rituals and attempts to impose its Biblical narrative will never succeed in altering the site's identity – or obliterating its landmarks,” Hamas said.
The competing claims and accusations reflect the broader dispute over Jerusalem's holy sites, particularly the administration, access arrangements and religious practices at the Al-Aqsa compound.
The latest condemnations from Jordan and the Gulf states underscore the regional sensitivity surrounding activities at the site and the continuing calls for preservation of its established arrangements.
