Turkey condemns "desecration" of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli minister

Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Photo: open sources

Israel became the subject of an official statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry following an incident on May 14, 2026, in East Jerusalem, when an Israeli minister entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex as part of a group of settlers. This was reported by the Turkish Foreign Ministry press service.

Turkey characterized this episode as a provocation, pointing to possible consequences for the status quo on the sacred territory and for the safety of people visiting it.

The Foreign Ministry noted that such actions undermine trust in the shrine's protection mechanisms and may increase tensions at the level of religious communities and diplomatic channels.

At the same time, Turkey called for compliance with existing rules of access to the site and for preventing incidents that could be perceived as an encroachment on the sanctity and rights of believers.

Earlier, the UOJ quoted the words of an Israeli minister: "The Temple Mount is in our hands." This topic has been raised more than once in the context of disputes between religions and states. Conflicts in the Holy Land around the regime of visiting and managing holy sites directly affect the safety of pilgrims and the climate of inter-church dialogue in the region.

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