Foreign ministers from eight Muslim-majority countries have strongly condemned Israeli authorities for continuing to close the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, considered Al-Haram Al-Sharif to Muslim worshippers, during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt denounced the move as a violation of international law and an infringement on the right to worship.
The ministers said that security restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation authorities on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its religious sites, along with what they described as discriminatory and arbitrary limitations on entry to other places of worship in the area, constitute a "flagrant violation" of international law, including international humanitarian law. They also said such measures undermine the historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.
The statement expressed "absolute rejection and condemnation" of the closure of the mosque's gates, describing the measure as illegal and unjustified. The ministers also criticised what they called Israel's continued "provocative actions" at Al-Aqsa Mosque and against worshippers.
They further stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or over its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
Reaffirming the religious status of the site, the ministers said the entire compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which spans 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They added that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department - affiliated with Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs - is the only legal authority responsible for administering the mosque's affairs and regulating entry to the compound.
Calling on Israel to reverse its actions, the ministers urged it, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove restrictions on access to the Old City, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers from reaching the site.
They also called on the international community to take a firm stance to compel Israel to halt what they described as ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and to respect the sanctity of these religious sites.