Palestine Accuses Israel of Systematic Policy to Alter Jerusalem Status Quo

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong statement condemning the Israeli government for pursuing a systematic policy aimed at changing the historical and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem. This accusation follows a raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and approximately 620 other Israelis, who entered the site under police protection during 'Jerusalem Day' celebrations. The Palestinian statement describes these actions, including the raising of the Israeli flag within the mosque compound, as provocative measures designed to impose a new de facto situation through force. Palestine asserts that these moves are part of a broader imperialist plan to Judaize Jerusalem and alter its demographic and cultural structure by dividing the holy site temporally and spatially. Reiterating that the entire Al-Aqsa area is an exclusive Muslim place of worship, Palestine declared that any unilateral attempts to violate this status quo hold no legal validity. Furthermore, the statement emphasized that the Palestinian state retains legal sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem, labeling Israel's actions as clear violations of international law.