Eight Muslim nations and Arab League condemn Al-Aqsa raid

Eight Muslim-majority nations and the Arab League have condemned a large-scale incursion by Israeli settlers and government ministers into Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday, July 23, 2026, denouncing it as a dangerous violation of international law and the site's long-standing status quo. The event, which coincided with the Jewish day of mourning known as Tisha B'Av, saw more than 4,200 individuals, including Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, enter the holy site under police protection.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Thursday, labeling the incursions "illegal and extremist acts." They stated the storming of the site constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the historic and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem. The ministers warned that such provocations fuel hatred and extremism, obstructing efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on a two-state solution.

Concurrently, the Arab League condemned the event, with Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy affirming...