Eight Muslim-Majority Countries Condemn Israel Over Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan

Eight countries from the Middle East and the wider Muslim world have strongly protested and condemned Israel for keeping the Al-Aqsa Mosque closed for 12 consecutive days during the holy month of Ramadan. The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has also strongly denounced the move.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates said that Israel’s restrictions on Palestinians entering the Old City of Jerusalem and its religious sites constitute a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

The ministers said that ensuring free access to places of worship is a fundamental principle of international norms. However, Israel’s recent actions concerning Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, contradict those principles and are completely unjustified. They said they strongly reject and condemn such decisions.

The statement also emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or the Islamic and Christian holy sites located there.

The foreign ministers noted that the entire compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque is a sacred site designated for Muslims. They added that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, under Jordan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, is the legitimate and sole administrative authority responsible for managing the site.

The ministers called on Israel to immediately withdraw its decision to keep the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque closed, lift restrictions on entry into Jerusalem’s Old City, and ensure that worshippers can perform their prayers without obstruction. They also urged the international community to take effective measures to stop Israel’s violations.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces said the strict restrictions on entry to the Old City and worship activities were imposed due to security concerns arising from ongoing tensions and conflict with Iran.

However, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the decision as a clear violation of Palestinians’ fundamental rights, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Hamas also condemned the incident, saying that closing Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan sets a dangerous precedent in history and represents a blatant violation of religious freedom.