The UAE has joined seven regional countries in condemning what they described as Israeli escalations at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar criticised recent visits by Israeli settlers, which they said were led by extremist ministers and carried out under the protection of Israeli security forces.
The ministers also condemned what they described as inflammatory actions, including the raising of the Israeli flag within the compound and new access restrictions affecting Muslim worshippers.
The statement said the actions violated international law, United Nations resolutions and the longstanding historical and legal status quo governing the holy site.
The ministers called on Israel to remove restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and urged the international community to take a firm stance to halt what they described as ongoing violations at Islamic and Christian holy sites.
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