The foreign ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the Arab Republic of Egypt condemned the continued closure by Israeli occupation authorities of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif to Muslim worshippers, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
They stated that the security restrictions imposed on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, along with the discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions placed on access to other places of worship in the Old City, constitute a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.
The ministers expressed their absolute rejection and condemnation of these illegal and unjustified measures, as well as Israel’s continued provocative practices at Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers.
They stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The ministers also reaffirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which spans 144 dunums, is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims. They emphasized that the Jerusalem Awqaf and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, is the legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulate entry to it.
The ministers called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately stop closing the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, refrain from obstructing worshippers’ access to the mosque, lift restrictions imposed on entry to the Old City of Jerusalem, and avoid hindering Muslim worshippers from reaching the site. They also urged the international community to take a firm stance obligating Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and its violations of the sanctity of these sacred places.
