Saudi Arabia and multiple Arab states have issued strong condemnations of a visit by Israel's National Security Minister to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, warning the action risks escalating religious tensions and undermining prospects for regional peace.
Saudi Arabia has led a wave of condemnation across the Arab world following a controversial visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described the incursion as a serious violation of international law, the sanctity of holy sites, and the feelings of Muslims worldwide. The kingdom reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to full sovereignty over all territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and called for immediate international intervention to prevent further escalation.
The action drew widespread criticism from other Arab nations as well. Jordan, which serves as the custodian of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, issued a stern protest, summoning Israel's charge d'affaires in Amman to clarify the violation. The Jordanian government warned that such provocative acts threaten to ignite religious conflict and undermine the historic status quo that has governed the compound for decades. The Palestinian Authority also condemned the visit, describing it as a declaration of war on Palestinian rights and Islamic identity, and called on Arab and Islamic nations to take urgent steps to protect Jerusalem.
The Al-Aqsa compound is one of the most sensitive religious sites in the world. Known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, it has long been a flashpoint for violence. Under long-standing arrangements, non-Muslims may visit the site but not pray there. Ben-Gvir, a far-right figure known for his extremist views on Jerusalem and Palestinians, has previously visited the compound and publicly called for greater Jewish prayer rights there — moves that Palestinians and much of the international community view as attempts to alter the site's Muslim character and status.
Arab League Secretary-General issued a collective condemnation on behalf of member states, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable and to uphold its legal and moral obligations. Several other nations across the Middle East echoed the warnings, noting that such actions endanger the fragile calm and make meaningful progress toward a two-state solution even more distant. United Nations officials have also repeatedly cautioned that any change to the status quo or attempts to divide the site will have serious consequences for regional stability.
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