Several Muslim-majority countries have condemned Israeli ultranationalists who raised Israeli flags and sang the national anthem during a raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The foreign ministers of Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement denouncing the incursion into the mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.

According to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, the body responsible for administering the site, at least 199 Israelis took part in the police-escorted visit on Sunday.

Footage from the compound showed participants raising Israeli flags, singing the national anthem and, in some cases, performing Talmudic prayers.

In a statement published by Qatar’s foreign ministry, the countries said the incursions, carried out under the protection of Israeli security forces, constituted “a clear violation of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the historical and legal status of the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem”.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in occupied East Jerusalem, is Islam’s third-holiest site.

“They reaffirm their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites, and stress on its preservation while recognising the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard,” added the statement, recognising Jordan’s jurisdiction over the holy site.

The ministers also reiterated that Al-Aqsa Mosque is “a place of worship exclusively for Muslims” and held Israeli authorities responsible for what they described as escalating violations by settlers entering the compound under military protection.

UK MP urges government to oppose attempts to remove Jordan’s custodianship

Al-Aqsa Mosque is governed by a decades-old status quo arrangement that recognises its Islamic character and places its administration under the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf.

Under this arrangement, non-Muslims may visit the site at designated times but Jewish prayer within the compound is not permitted.

Meanwhile, independent MP Shockat Adam has written to the British foreign secretary, urging the UK government to “unequivocally” oppose any efforts by Israel and the United States to remove Jordan’s custodianship over the mosque.

In a letter sent to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Adam said many constituents had contacted him expressing “outrage and alarm” over reports that Jordan’s role could be challenged.

“For Palestinians and Muslims around the world, Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a place of worship, but a symbol of identity, dignity and protection against ongoing dispossession,” he wrote.

Adam asked whether the government continues to support Jordan’s custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The UK’s longstanding official position is to recognise and support Jordan’s custodianship role over the holy sites in Jerusalem.