31.03.2026 00:31
The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates stated in a joint declaration that they condemn and reject any attempt by Israel to change the legal and historical status of the holy sites belonging to Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem.
The foreign ministers of the Republic of Turkey, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned and rejected the restrictions imposed by Israel on the freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem, including the prevention of access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is part of the Noble Sanctuary, and the entry of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Guardian of the Holy Land to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform the Palm Sunday Mass.
“A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE CURRENT LEGAL AND HISTORICAL STATUS QUO”
The joint press statement made by the foreign ministers of the eight countries included the following statements: "The ministers reiterated their condemnation and rejection of any Israeli attempt to change the legal and historical status quo regarding the holy sites belonging to Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem. The ongoing Israeli practices constitute a clear violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as the current legal and historical status quo, and mean a violation of the right to unhindered access to places of worship.
“IT WAS REITERATED THAT ISRAEL HAS NO SOVEREIGNTY OVER OCCUPIED JERUSALEM”
The ministers confirmed their firm rejection of the illegal and restrictive Israeli practices against Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, including the prevention of free access for Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to fulfill their religious duties. The ministers emphasized the necessity of respecting the current historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its Muslim and Christian holy sites, reiterated that the occupying power Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, and stressed that all practices preventing worshippers from accessing places of worship in Jerusalem must be ended.
“THE ENTIRE AL-AQSA MOSQUE/NOBLE SANCTUARY IS A PLACE OF WORSHIP EXCLUSIVELY FOR MUSLIMS”
The ministers once again condemned Israel's continuous closure of the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary to worshippers for 30 days, including the holy month of Ramadan, and its restrictions on freedom of worship; they stated that this constitutes a serious violation of international law, the current legal and historical status quo, and the obligations of the occupying power Israel. The ministers warned of the dangers posed by these escalatory measures to regional and international peace and security. The ministers reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary, covering a total area of 144 acres, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims; they emphasized that the Jerusalem Awqaf Administration and the Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, have exclusive legal authority to manage the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary and regulate access. The ministers called on the occupying power Israel to immediately cease the closure of the doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary, lift restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from preventing Muslims from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary. The ministers also called on the international community to adopt a determined stance to compel Israel to end its ongoing violations and illegal practices against the holy sites belonging to Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem and to respect the sanctity of these holy sites."