AMMAN — Foreign ministers from Jordan and seven other countries condemned Israel’s restrictions on freedom of worship in Jerusalem, denouncing measures affecting both Muslims and Christians in the Holy City.

 

In a joint statement, the ministers of Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt rejected ongoing Israeli violations at holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.

 

They cited restrictions preventing Muslim worshippers from accessing Al Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram Al Sharif and blocking Christian clergy, including the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to conduct Palm Sunday mass, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

 

They renewed their condemnation and rejection of any Israeli attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

 

These continued Israeli measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as of the historical and legal status quo, and represent an infringement on the unrestricted right of access to places of worship, the statement said.

 

The ministers affirmed their absolute rejection of the illegal and restrictive Israeli measures against Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, including preventing Christians from freely accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform their religious rites.

 

They stressed the necessity of respecting the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, reiterating that Israel, as the occupying power, holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, and underscoring the need to halt all measures that impede worshippers’ access to their places of worship in Jerusalem.

 

The ministers renewed their condemnation of Israel’s continued closure of the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque / Al Haram Al Sharif to worshippers for 30 consecutive days including during the holy month of Ramadan, and the restriction of freedom of worship, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, the historical and legal status quo, and Israel’s obligations as the occupying power.

 

They warned of the dangers of these escalatory measures to regional and international peace and security.

 

The ministers also reiterated that the entire area of Al Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram Al Sharif, amounting 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 / Al Haram Al Sharif and regulate entry thereto.

 

They also called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately cease the closure of the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram Al Sharif, remove access restrictions in the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers’ access to the mosque.

 

They also called on the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its violations of the sanctity of these holy places.