Islamabad: Eight Islamic countries, including Pakistan, have issued a joint condemnation of Israel for its continued closure of gates to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to Radio Pakistan, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have expressed their absolute rejection of Israel’s measures, labeling them illegal and unjustified. The statement highlights that security restrictions on access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its places of worship represent a clear violation of international law.
The ministers emphasized that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. They reiterated that the entire area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, covering 144 dunams, is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims. The Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is recognized as the sole legal authority to manage the affairs of the mosque and regulate entry to it.