ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the recent storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli ministers, accompanied by groups of settlers and protected by Israeli police. In a statement posted on his official X account, the prime minister described the incident as a grave desecration of one of Islam’s holiest sites. He emphasized that the act is not only an affront to the faith of over a billion Muslims worldwide but also a blatant violation of international law and a challenge to the moral conscience of humanity.
Shehbaz Sharif denounced the continued provocations by the occupying power, warning that such actions, paired with calls for annexation, are threatening the prospects for peace in the region. He noted that Israel's deliberate provocations are heightening tensions in Palestine and the broader Middle East, pushing the region further toward conflict and instability.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance in support of the Palestinian people and called for an immediate ceasefire. He urged an end to all forms of aggression and the initiation of a genuine peace process. This, he said, must lead to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The condemnation came after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa compound and claimed to have prayed there, defying long-standing agreements that prohibit non-Muslim worship at the site.
