Pakistan issued a powerful call for unity among Arab and Muslim countries on Wednesday, urging them to take concrete, collective action to safeguard Jerusalem’s holy sites, firmly reject Israeli settlement expansion, and throw their full weight behind the implementation of the Gaza peace plan. The appeal, delivered at a high-level ministerial meeting in Amman, Jordan, comes as regional anxiety intensifies over the future of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the relentless conflict in the Palestinian territories.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar delivered Pakistan’s stance at the gathering, which was convened by the Jordanian government. The meeting was called against a backdrop of mounting concern over Israeli actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site of profound significance in Islam. Jordan has consistently warned that any attempt to tamper with the long-standing custodial arrangements there could detonate wider regional instability.
No Sovereignty Over Occupied East Jerusalem
In unequivocal remarks, Dar rejected any Israeli claim to the contested city and its holy places. “Let there be no ambiguity. Israel has no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites,” he stated. “All measures seeking to alter their character or status are null and void and without any legal effect.”
He reinforced Pakistan’s steadfast support for Jordan’s specific role as custodian, formally recognizing the Jerusalem Endowment and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, operating under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, as “the legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction over the administration of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque Al-Haram Al-Sharif.”
Dar further emphasized that the entire 144-dunam (35-acre) Al-Aqsa Mosque compound constitutes an exclusive Muslim place of worship, insisting that any attempt to change its character or status “must be rejected unequivocally.”
Condemnation of Settlements and Violence
The Pakistani deputy premier did not limit his critique to Jerusalem. He launched a sharp condemnation of ongoing Israeli activities in the wider occupied territories, directly linking settlement growth to a deepening, unlawful occupation.
“We also remain deeply concerned by the continued expansion of illegal settlements, the establishment of new settlement outposts, escalating settler violence and continued oppression of the Palestinian people throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the West Bank,” Dar said. He argued that these policies brazenly violate international humanitarian law, defy the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and serve to further entrench an illegal occupation.
Gaza’s Dire Reality and a Call to Action
Shifting focus to the catastrophic situation in Gaza, Dar acknowledged that while the ceasefire and peace initiative had yielded some improvements, the humanitarian picture remained devastatingly grim. He presented stark data to underscore the fragility of the moment.
“The ceasefire and the implementation of elements of the peace plan have yielded some improvements. However, 59 percent of the population still faces crisis-level food insecurity,” he revealed. “Notably, since the ceasefire, over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed. That calls into question the full and faithful implementation of the plan. Nearly 2 million people remain confined to just 30 percent of Gaza territory, enduring miserable living conditions.”
Concluding his address, Dar issued a direct and urgent appeal to the assembled Arab and Muslim nations. He urged them to preserve what he described as a fleeting opportunity for peace by acting collectively, transforming shared concern into a unified and effective diplomatic strategy.
