Friends of Al-Aqsa welcomes the recent joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of the UAE, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemning Israel’s closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa.

While these concerns are important, we must emphasise that statements alone are not enough given the serious and growing threats facing Masjid Al-Aqsa.

The closure of Masjid Al-Aqsa does not occur in isolation. It comes in the shadow of the devastating genocide unfolding in Gaza, the seizure of administrative control of the Ibrahimi Masjid in Al-Khalil (Hebron), and increasingly open calls by prominent Israeli political and ideological figures for the destruction of the existing structures of Masjid Al-Aqsa.

What was once considered a fringe aspiration, the rebuilding of a Jewish temple on the site of Masjid Al-Aqsa, is now moving into the mainstream of Israeli political discourse and ambition. These developments represent immediate and escalating threats to Masjid Al-Aqsa.

In these circumstances, verbal condemnation alone cannot deter further Israeli violations. Israel has repeatedly demonstrated that it will not be restrained by statements. It has disregarded United Nations resolutions, UNESCO rulings, the Geneva Conventions, and fundamental principles of international and humanitarian law.

With Israel increasingly disregarding diplomatic and legal norms, while openly undermining the status quo and signaling intentions to expand its control over Masjid Al-Aqsa, Friends of Al-Aqsa urges the governments of Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to take meaningful and concrete action.

This is an eleventh-hour moment for Masjid Al-Aqsa. Friends of Al-Aqsa calls upon all nations of conscience to move beyond condemnation and immediately implement tangible measures:

• Suspend trade with Israel

• Withdraw ambassadors

• Impose diplomatic and economic sanctions

Friends of Al-Aqsa emphasises that the defence of Masjid Al-Aqsa now demands courage, leadership, and decisive action. History will remember not the statements issued in this moment, but the actions taken to defend Masjid Al-Aqsa.