Eight Arab and Islamic Countries Condemn Israeli Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Eight Arab and Islamic countries have issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s 12-day closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates published their statement on Wednesday.

The statement asserts that Israeli restrictions on Palestinian access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship violate international law, including humanitarian law, historical and legal status quo, and principle of unrestricted access. The ministers reject Israel’s actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers as “illegal” and “unjustified”.

The statement emphasizes that the area surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque is exclusively for Muslims and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, has jurisdiction over the site. The ministers call on Israel to immediately lift its closure of the mosque’s gates, remove access restrictions to the Old City, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement, describing the continued closure as a “blatant violation of Palestinian rights”. Hamas has condemned the closure, stating it sets a “dangerous historical precedent” and a “blatant violation” of freedom of worship.

Source: Al Jazeera