The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned the entry of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of Israeli police, describing the incident as a “provocation.”
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the settlers’ actions, including raising the Israeli flag at the compound on Sunday, constituted a violation of the site's historical and legal status quo. The compound is regarded as one of the holiest places in Islam.
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The ministry also reaffirmed support for Jordan’s role as the custodian of the mosque and backed measures taken by Amman to safeguard religious sites.
The UAE called on Israeli authorities to take responsibility for stopping what it described as escalatory actions and urged efforts to prevent further tensions in the region.
It also appealed to the international community to intensify efforts toward achieving a two-state solution, saying such a framework would help fulfill Palestinian aspirations for an independent state.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, is governed by a longstanding status quo arrangement under which Muslims are permitted to pray at the site, while non-Muslims may visit but are not allowed to worship there.
With inputs from Al Jazeera.