Eight Arab and Islamic countries have strongly condemned Israel’s continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The move comes as Israeli authorities have kept the mosque closed and restricted movement in the Old City of Jerusalem for 12 consecutive days.
Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates issued a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the closure.
The ministers said Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian access to the Old City and religious sites represent a “flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law.”
They also warned that the move undermines the historical and legal status quo and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.
Ministers reject Israeli actions
The joint statement expressed “absolute rejection and condemnation” of the continued closure and described it as an illegal and unjustified measure.
The ministers also criticised what they described as provocative actions against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
They further stressed that Israel does not have sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
The statement reaffirmed that the entire compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is exclusively for Muslim worship.
It added that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, remains the legal authority responsible for managing the site.
The ministers urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and remove restrictions preventing Palestinians from entering the Old City.
They also called on the international community to intervene and compel Israel to halt what they described as ongoing violations.
Israeli forces have imposed strict restrictions on worshippers and access to the Old City, citing security measures linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
However, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the continued closure represents a blatant violation of Palestinian rights, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
Hamas reaction
The Palestinian group Hamas also condemned the move earlier this week.
In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas said the closure sets a “dangerous historical precedent” and constitutes a clear violation of freedom of worship.
