AMMAN — Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have condemn Israeli occupation authorities’ continued closure of the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al Sharif to Muslim worshippers particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

 

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the seven Arab and Muslim countries noted that the “security restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, coupled with discriminatory and arbitrary access restrictions to the other places of worship in the old city constitute a flagrant violation to international law, including international humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.”

 

The ministers affirmed their “absolute rejection and condemnation of this illegal and unjustified measure, as well as Israel’s continued provocative actions at Al Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers.”

 

They also stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

 

The top diplomats reiterated that the entire area of the Al Aqsa Mosque, which amounts to 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the “legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the affairs of the Al Aqsa Mosque and regulate entry to it.”

 

The ministers called on Israel, as the occupying Power, to “immediately” end the closure of the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, remove access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to the mosque.

 

They also called on the international community to take a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.

 

Earlier on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry condemned the continued closure of the gates of the Al Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al Sharif by Israeli authorities, preventing worshippers from performing religious rituals, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

 

In a statement, the ministry described the measure as a "flagrant" violation of international law, and the historic and legal status quo governing the holy site, as well as a breach of the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.

 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Fuad Majali reiterated Jordan’s firm rejection and condemnation of what he described as an illegal and unjustified measure, as well as Israel’s continued provocative actions at the compound and against worshippers.

 

He stressed that East Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites are occupied territories and that Israel holds no sovereignty over them.

 

Majali urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately reopen the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque and refrain from obstructing worshippers’ access to the site.

 

He also called on the international community to take a firm stance obliging Israel to halt its violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

The spokesperson reiterated that the entire 144-dunum Al Aqsa Mosque is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, and that the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the sole legal authority responsible for managing the site and regulating access.