Egypt condemns the storming of AL-Aqsa Mosque
Author : Islam Ammar Published at : Apr 21, 2026
Islam Ammar
Updated on 21 April 2026
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 7 April 2026, Egypt characterizes the storming of the Israeli Minister of National Security into Al-Aqsa Mosque as a flagrant violation of applicable rules of international law and international humanitarian law, and as conduct that disrupts the established legal and historical status quo in East Jerusalem.
Egypt maintains that the entirety of Al-Aqsa Mosque constitutes a Muslim place of worship and affirms that any measures intended to impose new realities on the ground are considered null, void, and unacceptable.
Egypt reiterates its position that Israel does not possess sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. It also identifies continued restrictions on worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa and limitations on the freedom of worship as a grave violation of international law.
Furthermore, Egypt emphasizes the necessity of respecting the historical and legal role of the Islamic Endowments (Islamic Awqaf) in Jerusalem, particularly the Hashemite Custodianship in managing the affairs of Al-Aqsa and regulating access to it, as part of maintaining the existing framework governing Al-Aqsa Mosque.
On 21 April 2026, Egypt reiterated its position on the occasion of the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israeli citizens under the protection of the Israeli police and issued a joint statement on 23 April 2026 with the Jordan , the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, condemning the repeated violations of the historic and legal statues quo in Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites by Israeli occupation authorities and citizens, particularly the continued incursions by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers into Al-Aqsa mosque\Al- Haram Al- Sharif under the Israeli protection, as well as the raising of Israeli flag within its courtyards.
In that context, the Ministers condemned ‘the accelerating illegal settlement activity, including Israel’s decision to approve over 30 new settlements, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, including United Nations Security Council resolutions and the 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.’ The Ministers further condemned the ongoing and escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including recent attacks on Palestinian schools and children, and called on Israel to assume full responsibility, condemn these hostile acts, and hold perpetrators accountable.
The Ministers called upon the international community to assume its responsibilities and take clear and decisive steps to halt these violations.