The foreign ministers (FMs) of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar strongly condemned the continued closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslim worshippers, particularly during the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
In a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry late on Wednesday, the foreign ministers described the security restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, along with discriminatory and arbitrary limitations on other religious sites in the Old City, as a blatant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.
They affirmed their absolute rejection and condemnation of these illegal measures and Israel’s ongoing provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The ministers stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
They reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, covering 144 dunams, is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims. They underscored that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds exclusive jurisdiction over the administration of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif and the regulation of entry.
The ministers called on Israel to immediately reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove access restrictions to the Old City, and allow unhindered access for Muslim worshippers.
They also urged the international community to adopt a firm stance to compel Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and to respect the sanctity of these sacred places.
