Amman, Jordan — Arab and Muslim foreign ministers have agreed to establish a permanent mechanism to monitor and document developments at Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, citing concerns over recent events in occupied East Jerusalem.
The agreement was reached during a ministerial meeting in Jordan on Wednesday (August 5, 2026), where participating countries announced plans to create a dedicated media platform aimed at documenting alleged violations affecting religious sites and worshippers.
The information will be shared with international organisations and the wider global community.
The joint declaration was endorsed by members of the Arab ministerial committee on Jerusalem, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, and representatives from Türkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Ministers called for what they described as urgent international action to preserve the historical and legal status of Jerusalem’s religious sites.
The declaration accused Israel of pursuing policies that alter the city’s demographic, cultural and religious character through settlement expansion, land confiscation and restrictions affecting Palestinian residents.
The statement also expressed concern over developments at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, alleging increased incursions by Israeli settlers and officials, restrictions on Muslim worshippers, and interference with the work of the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department.
It warned that continued tensions at the site could increase the risk of wider regional instability.
In addition, the ministers raised concerns about Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including reported restrictions on access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, alleged interference in church affairs, and incidents involving clergy, worshippers and religious property.
As part of the initiative, participating countries agreed to establish a permanent monitoring mechanism to collect evidence, coordinate diplomatic efforts and raise international awareness of developments affecting Jerusalem’s religious sites.
The meeting also called for a joint ministerial session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September to discuss the situation in Jerusalem and consider further diplomatic action.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it is committed to maintaining freedom of worship in Jerusalem while safeguarding security. The status of Jerusalem, including its holy sites, remains one of the most sensitive and disputed issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
