Foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim nations have agreed to establish a permanent mechanism to document Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and its holy sites. This decision was announced in a joint declaration following talks held on Wednesday in Amman, Jordan.
Representatives from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia participated in the meeting alongside members of the Arab ministerial committee on Jerusalem. They condemned Israeli policies aimed at altering the Islamic and Christian identity of Jerusalem and called for immediate international action to halt these measures.
Documentation Process
The joint declaration stated that a special media platform would be launched under this new mechanism. Through this platform, violations committed against worshippers would be regularly documented and presented to international organizations and global public opinion.
The ministers stated that measures taken by Israel to alter the legal and demographic status of Jerusalem violate international law and are “null and void.” They affirmed that East Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory and that Israel holds no sovereignty over it.
Concerns Regarding Al-Aqsa and Christian Holy Sites
The declaration strongly condemned the increasing incursions by extremist settlers and Israeli officials into the Al-Aqsa Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Sharif).
The ministers alleged that these activities constitute an attempt to alter the historical status quo of Al-Aqsa and impose a temporal and spatial division of the mosque.
Furthermore, they criticized restrictions on Muslim worship, interference in the operations of the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, and ongoing excavation work beneath and around the mosque.
The declaration asserted that the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa compound is exclusively a place of Muslim worship and must remain under the administration of the Jordan-affiliated Waqf.
At the same time, Israeli interference regarding Christian religious sites was also condemned. In particular, allegations were raised regarding restrictions on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and interference in the church’s internal affairs.
Initiatives involving the State of Palestine and the UN
The joint declaration reaffirmed East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The ministers stated that establishing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel—based on the borders of June 4, 1967—is the only path to just and lasting peace.
They reiterated their support for the Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites and pledged to continue assisting efforts to sustain the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.
The ministers warned that Israeli attacks on holy Islamic sites could inflame the sentiments of nearly two billion Muslims worldwide, potentially posing a threat to international peace and security.
A call has been made to organize a joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League during the high-level session of the UN General Assembly in September to address this matter.
