Eight Muslim-majority nations slam Israel’s closure of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, calling it illegal and provocative.
ISLAMABAD: Eight Islamic and Arab nations have jointly condemned Israel for closing Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan.
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar issued a statement on Thursday denouncing the ongoing restriction as illegal, unjustified and provocative.
They asserted that Israel’s action constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.
Israeli authorities closed all holy sites in east Jerusalem’s Old City, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, for security reasons following the outbreak of a wider regional war.
The closure coincides with Ramadan, a period when tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslims would typically pray each Friday at Islam’s third holiest site.
Israeli police announced the shutdown last Monday, stating it was necessary to safeguard public safety and human life.
The joint statement from the eight nations emphasised that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
They urged the Israeli government to immediately lift the ban on access for worshippers.
Israel occupied east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognised by the international community.
Access to the Old City has been restricted since the war began, permitted only for residents and shop owners.
The wider conflict was triggered by joint Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran.