Pakistan on Tuesday condemned in the strongest possible terms the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque — also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif — by Israeli occupation forces, calling the act a direct assault on the sanctity of one of Islam’s holiest sites and a flagrant violation of international law.
The incursion, which took place on the evening of Monday, 6 April 2026, saw Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem through the Mughrabi Gate, accompanied by a heavy escort of Israeli forces. The provocative visit came amid an ongoing Israeli-imposed closure of the mosque that has now entered its 31st consecutive day.
“This reprehensible act constitutes a direct assault on the sanctity and historical character of the holy site and is a violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson issued the statement on Tuesday, describing the incursion as one in a series of repeated provocations at the site. Islamabad categorically rejected all attempts by the Israeli occupying authorities to alter or undermine the established religious, historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and called upon the international community to take urgent and effective measures to prevent further such incidents.
The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, including the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and their aspiration for an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif — East Jerusalem — as its capital.
Pakistan’s rebuke, it may be added here, was part of a broader wave of diplomatic protests. Multiple Arab and Muslim-majority states — including Qatar and Jordan — also issued formal statements on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, specifically condemning Ben-Gvir’s 6 April entry as a “storming” that violated the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and Al-Haram al-Sharif. The coordinated international response signals mounting concern over what critics describe as a deliberate strategy of incremental encroachment on the holy site.
It is important to note that the Ben-Gvir visit is not an isolated incident. Rights groups and Muslim leaders have documented a pattern of ministerial and settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound, particularly during periods of heightened tension or religious observance. The current closure of the mosque — now exceeding 30 days — has drawn widespread condemnation from governments, international organisations, and civil society groups across the globe.
Pakistan, which has consistently championed the Palestinian cause on multilateral forums including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement, has historically been among the most vocal states in opposing Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
