Middle East

Doha, Qatar:The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemn Israeli occupation authorities' continued closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif to Muslim worshippers particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Security restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship coupled with discriminatory and arbitrary access restrictions to the other places of worship in the old city constitute a flagrant violation to international law, including international humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship. The Ministers affirmed their absolute rejection and condemnation of this illegal and unjustified measure, as well as Israel's continued provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers. They stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The Ministers reiterated that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which amounts to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif and regulate entry to it. The Ministers called on Israel, as the occupying Power, to immediately cease the closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers' access to the mosque. They also called on the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.

Europe

Geneva:The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Tom Fletcher warned on Wednesday that the escalation in the Middle East is increasing pressure on humanitarian operations worldwide, disrupting supply chains and slowing the delivery of life-saving aid to a number of crisis areas. In a statement, Fletcher said that this is a very critical moment for the Middle East, and indeed, the entire world. He noted that aid supplies to Gaza and sub-Saharan Africa are being affected by the escalation, as humanitarian relief that needs to pass through the Strait of Hormuz or through Gulf airspace has been blocked or restricted. Somalia, which is suffering from conflict and facing severe drought, and Sudan are among the many countries facing serious humanitarian crises, Fletcher added. The Emergency Relief Coordinator said that these restrictions will harm humanitarian supply chains, reducing the flow of humanitarian aid delivered to those in need, and will also lead to rising energy and food costs across the region.

Americas

Washington: The US Department of State announced that a drone targeted a major American diplomatic facility in Iraq Tuesday, confirming that no injuries were reported as a result of the attack. In a statement issued Wednesday, the department said the strike targeted the Diplomatic Support Center, a logistics hub for US diplomats located near Baghdad International Airport, noting that the incident impacted a watchtower at the site. The statement added that the United States and the Iraqi government are in close contact regarding the necessary measures to protect US personnel and facilities.