Egypt and major Muslim nations condemn Israeli restrictions on Al-Aqsa and Holy Sepulchre access

Foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have issued a joint statement condemning Israeli restrictions on Muslim and Christian worship in occupied Jerusalem. The statement, released on Monday, denounced the prevention of worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque and the barring of the Latin Patriarch and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday mass. These actions were described as "blatant violations" of international law and the historic status quo of the holy sites. The ministers asserted that Israel, as the occupying power, has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem. They specifically highlighted the 30-consecutive-day closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque gates, including during Ramadan, warning that such escalatory measures threaten regional and international peace. The statement reiterated that Al-Aqsa Mosque is exclusively a place of worship for Muslims, with the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, holding exclusive jurisdiction over its management. The group urged the international community to compel Israel to cease its illegal practices and remove restrictions on access to Jerusalem’s Old City immediately.