Cairo, July 19 (Petra) — International and regional officials lauded
Jordan’s role in supporting the Palestinian cause on Sunday,
emphasizing the vital importance of the Hashemite custodianship over
Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

In statements to the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on the sidelines of
the 2026 Conference on the Question of Jerusalem in Cairo, officials
who represent international and regional organizations commended the
political and diplomatic efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah II
to defend the rights of the Palestinian people across international
forums. The conference was jointly organized by the United Nations
Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the
Palestinian People and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
with broad participation from diplomats, experts, and regional
organizations.

The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, Ambassador
Riyad Mansour, praised Jordan’s steadfast positions and its pivotal
role in protecting the holy sites from ongoing attempts to alter the
city’s historical, legal, demographic, and cultural status.

Mansour noted that the Hashemite custodianship, reaffirmed under the
2013 agreement signed between His Majesty King Abdullah and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, serves as a cornerstone for
protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites. He added that Jordan’s
practical support extends to the management, maintenance, and
restoration of these sites through the Jerusalem Awqaf Department,
which strengthens the resilience of Jerusalemites and safeguards the
right to worship.

OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Jerusalem Affairs,
Dawas Dawas, also lauded Jordan’s diplomatic mobilization, stating
that Amman’s position aligns closely with OIC resolutions that affirm
the Palestinian people’s right to establish an independent state with
Jerusalem as its capital.

Dawas added that the conference, held in Egypt, sent a clear message
to the international community that Jerusalem remains a central issue
for the Arab and Islamic worlds and that all Israeli measures aimed
at altering the legal and historical status of the occupied city are
null and void under international law.

Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf Al-Awar affirmed
that the Hashemite custodianship remains an active and continuous
model for safeguarding the holy sites, commanding widespread
appreciation among the people of Jerusalem. He emphasized that under
the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, Jordan continues to
provide essential institutional support to the city’s sanctuaries
while spearheading diplomatic efforts to solidify the legitimate
rights of the Palestinian people.

//Petra// AF