Foreign ministers from several Muslim-majority countries, including Türkiye, have condemned Israel for restricting Muslim worshippers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
In a joint statement, ministers from Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates criticized Israeli authorities for limiting entry to the mosque compound and imposing strict security measures around Jerusalem’s Old City.
The ministers said the restrictions violate international law and the longstanding status quo governing the site. They also rejected what they described as provocative actions targeting worshippers at the mosque.
The statement emphasized that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a place of worship for Muslims and that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which operates under Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the only authority responsible for managing the site and regulating access.
The countries called on Israel to reopen the mosque’s gates, lift restrictions on entry to Jerusalem’s Old City and allow Muslim worshippers to freely access the site during Ramadan. They also urged the international community to take action to stop what they described as violations against religious sites in the city.
Access restrictions to Jerusalem have tightened since the start of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, limiting travel for many Palestinians from the occupied West Bank to East Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third-holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the same area as the Temple Mount, believed to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.