Saudi Arabia strongly condemned recent Israeli actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem after Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and other far right officials entered the holy site under heavy police protection.
According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the Kingdom rejected what it described as “Repeated provocative practices” by Israeli authorities at Islam’s third-holiest site. Saudi officials criticized the reported storming of the mosque compound and the raising of Israeli flags inside the courtyards of Al-Aqsa.
At least 8 Arab and Muslim majority countries condemned the incident, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. Several countries issued joint statements warning that the actions could increase tensions across the Middle East and provoke anger among Muslims worldwide.
Saudi Arabia warned that:
- Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa violate international law and the historical status quo of the holy site.
- Continued provocations could threaten regional peace and stability.
- The international community must intervene to stop further violations and ensure accountability.
Jordan, which oversees the Islamic Waqf administration managing the Al-Aqsa compound, also condemned the move and called it a violation of international agreements governing the site.
The incident reportedly took place during Jerusalem Day events, when groups of Israeli nationalists marched through parts of East Jerusalem. Reports said some far right ministers and supporters entered the compound alongside Israeli security forces, triggering widespread criticism across the Muslim world.
However, despite the strong diplomatic warnings, no country officially announced military action or a declaration of war over the incident.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains one of the most sensitive religious and political locations in the Israel Palestine conflict and any developments there often trigger global reactions.
