The Gulf Cooperation Council condemns the Al-Aqsa incursions and warns against undermining peace opportunities

The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expressed its strong condemnation of the escalating incursions by extremist settlers into the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Council affirmed that these actions are taking place under the direct protection of the Israeli occupation forces, which constitutes a blatant challenge to the international community.

The Secretary-General of the Council, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, described these practices as provocative and utterly unacceptable, noting that they aim to inflame the feelings of Muslims around the world. AlBudaiwi clarified that the continuation of these violations represents a clear breach of international laws and relevant legitimate resolutions concerning the status of the holy city.

The Gulf statement emphasized the categorical rejection of any Israeli attempts aimed at changing the existing legal and historical status in the city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The Council warned that these systematic policies will inevitably lead to an increase in tension and instability throughout the entire region.

In a related context, local sources reported that groups of settlers raised the Israeli flag inside the courtyards of the Noble Sanctuary during the past days. These actions were accompanied by the performance of provocative Talmudic rituals, which sparked a wave of anger and warnings about the repercussions of these actions on the security of the region.

For his part, the Director of the Media Department in Jerusalem Governorate, Omar Al-Rajoub, indicated that what is happening in Al-Aqsa is not just fleeting incidents, but rather part of an official plan. He explained that the occupation authorities, through these incursions, seek to impose a new reality that paves the way for the temporal and spatial division of the mosque.

Condemnation was not limited to the Gulf side, as the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint statement condemning these repeated violations. The statement included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia, in a wide-ranging diplomatic move.

In their joint statement, the ministers affirmed the necessity of respecting the historical Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites in Jerusalem, and stopping all measures that affect the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque. They stressed that the only way to achieve stability lies in returning to the path of a just and comprehensive peace.

Observers believe that the intensification of incursions recently reflects the desire of the far-right in the Israeli government to impose full control over the holy sites. Palestinians warn that these crimes aim to erase the Arab and Islamic identity of the city of Jerusalem and permanently Judaize its historical features.

The Gulf Cooperation Council concluded its statement by affirming that undermining peace opportunities in the region is the direct result of these continuous provocations. It called on the international community and UN organizations to assume their legal and moral responsibilities to stop these aggressions and provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people and their holy sites.

These provocative practices represent a blatant violation of international law and international legitimate resolutions and fuel tension in the region.