Khaberni - The foreign ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Republic of Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, State of Qatar, and Arab Republic of Egypt condemn the continued practice by Israeli occupation authorities of closing the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif in front of Muslim worshippers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
The security restrictions imposed on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship, along with the discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions on access to other worship places in the Old City, constitute a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, of the existing historical and legal status, and of the principle of unrestricted access to worship sites.
The ministers affirmed their absolute rejection and condemnation of these illegal and unjustified measures, and the continuation of Israel's provocative practices at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshippers.
They emphasized that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The ministers reiterated that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which spans 144 dunams, is a purely Muslim place of worship, and that the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is the legal authority exclusively responsible for managing the affairs of the Al-Aqsa blessed Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and regulating entry to it.
The ministers demand that Israel, as the occupying power, immediately stop closing the doors of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and not hinder the access of worshippers to the mosque, lift restrictions imposed on access to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers' access to the mosque. They also called upon the international community to take a firm stance that obliges Israel to cease its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem, and its violations of the sanctity of these holy sites.
