Jordan condemns 'Israeli' incursions into Aqsa Mosque

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the actions of two extremist 'Israeli' ministers and several Knesset members who entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif on Tuesday, under the protection of Israeli Occupation police.

This coincided with provocative actions by other extremists and restrictions imposed on Muslim worshipers' access to the mosque, violating international law and the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites.

The ministry's spokesperson, Ambassador Dr. Sufyan Qudah, emphasized that Israeli Occupation's ongoing unilateral actions and breaches of the status quo necessitate a clear and firm international stance. He called for protection for the Palestinian people amidst ongoing aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.

Read more: On Tisha B’Av; hundreds of ‘Israeli’ settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

Ambassador Qudah reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, covering its entire 144-dunum area, is a place of worship solely for Muslims. The Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places has the exclusive legal authority to manage the mosque's affairs and regulate entry.

He stressed that Palestine has sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, rejecting any claims of Israeli Occupation sovereignty over the city and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

On the same day, Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli Occupation Minister of National Security, and Yitzhak Wasserlauf, Minister for Negev and Galilee Affairs, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under heavy police protection. Hundreds of 'Israeli' settlers also entered the mosque's courtyards, where they performed rituals and raised Israeli Occupation flags.

This marks the sixth time Ben Gvir has entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque since taking office in late 2022.