Eight Muslim states including Pakistan condemn Israel’s continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque

ISLAMABAD: Eight Islamic countries including Pakistan have condemned Israel's continued closure of gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslim worshippers particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar affirmed their absolute rejection of this illegal and unjustified measure, as well as Israel’s continued provocative actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The statement said that security restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem and its places of worship constitute a flagrant violation to international law.

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

The ministers 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 blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and regulate entry to it.