A group of Muslim-majority countries, along with Pakistan, has issued a joint statement condemning the closure of gates at Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest places.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said the move by Israeli authorities prevents Muslim worshippers from entering the compound, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
The mosque forms part of the wider compound known to Muslims as Al-Haram Al-Sharif in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Concern over access restrictions
In the statement, the ministers said security restrictions around the Old City and limits on entry to places of worship amount to a violation of international law.
They argued that restricting access to the site during Ramadan places additional pressure on Muslim worshippers seeking to pray at the mosque.
The group also described the continued closure of the gates as discriminatory and said it undermines the historical and legal arrangements governing access to religious sites in Jerusalem.
Call for immediate reopening
The ministers urged Israel, which they described as the occupying power, to reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque without delay.
They also called for the removal of broader restrictions affecting access to the Old City and asked Israeli authorities to allow Muslim worshippers to enter the mosque freely.
The statement further stressed that Israel has “no sovereignty” over occupied Jerusalem or over its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
The ministers also referred to the administrative role of the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, which is linked to Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
According to the statement, the body has legal authority to manage the mosque compound, which covers around 144 dunams. The ministers said this arrangement should be respected.
Appeal to the international community
The joint statement also urged the international community to take a stronger stance.
It called for pressure on Israel to halt what the ministers described as ongoing violations and illegal practices affecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The statement was issued in Islamabad on 11 March.
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