Muslim countries have condemned the visit by Israeli officials to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

A number of Middle Eastern countries have lodged a strong protest over the visit by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and a group of Israelis to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. The Israeli actions sparked a wave of criticism from the foreign ministries of Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

In an official statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry described the incident as a gross violation of international law and an encroachment on the status of the holy site, emphasizing that the entire 14.4-hectare complex is under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf. Representatives from Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia called this move a “flagrant provocation” capable of offending the feelings of millions of believers.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a strong condemnation, warning that such actions lead to increased tensions in the region. According to official data, on the eve of Yom Kippur, 992 Israeli visitors, accompanied by police, visited the compound. The Palestinian and Jordanian sides once again stated that any change to the current status quo or attempts to divide the holy site along territorial or temporal lines are unacceptable.