Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, said on Friday that the Israeli government is “pushing the West Bank toward an explosion,” warning that its violations of the historic and legal status quo at the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem constitute “illegal measures and dangerous provocations.”
In a post on X, Safadi said these violations are “driving the region toward a new catastrophic conflict whose consequences will extend beyond the occupied Palestinian territories.”
He called on the international community to “act effectively and swiftly to confront these Israeli measures before it is too late.”
On Thursday, Jordan, along with several Arab and Islamic countries, strongly condemned Israel’s escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly the continued large-scale incursions by Israeli settlers led by far-right ministers under the protection of Israeli police, the raising of the Israeli flag inside the mosque compound, and the installation of two police tents within its courtyards.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt strongly denounced what they described as illegal and extremist acts, including incitement, calls to mobilize settlers for incursions, and acts of violence committed by Israeli ministers and extremist groups.
The ministers warned that these provocative actions fuel hatred and extremism while undermining efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led hundreds of settlers into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque during what is referred to by Israelis as the “Tisha B’Av” commemoration. The incursion took place under the protection of Israeli police and heavily armed special forces.
Separately, four Palestinians were killed and two Israelis died on Friday in violence near a Palestinian village, adding to the growing Palestinian death toll in recent weeks amid escalating attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military also set up roadblocks around the areas of Tell and Nablus on Friday and said it was pursuing those involved in the incident.
The army added that it was preparing for a “large-scale operation” in the area.
