Foreign ministers from several countries condemned the ongoing Israeli restrictions on religious freedom for Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, noting that these measures include barring Muslim worshipers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque and preventing the Latin Patriarch and the Guardian of the Holy Sepulchre from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to conduct Palm Sunday services.
The ministers reiterated their rejection of any Israeli attempts to alter the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. They characterized these actions as a blatant violation of international law, including humanitarian law, and an infringement on the unrestricted right of access to places of worship.
The ministers reaffirmed their absolute rejection of illegal and restrictive Israeli measures targeting Muslims and Christians in Jerusalem, including the barring of Christians from freely accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They stressed the necessity of respecting the historical and legal status in Jerusalem and its holy sites, asserting that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city as an occupying power. The ministers highlighted the need to halt all procedures that impede worshipers’ access to their places of worship.
They condemned Israel for keeping the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque closed to worshippers for 30 consecutive days, including during Ramadan, and for imposing restrictions on worship, describing this as a serious violation of international law and Israel’s obligations as an occupying power. The ministers warned of the risks these escalatory measures pose to regional and international peace and security.
The ministers noted that Al-Aqsa Mosque, covering 144 dunums, is a place of worship solely for Muslims, and that the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is the legally authorized body for managing the Holy Sanctuary and organizing entry.
The ministers called on Israel, as an occupying power, to immediately stop closing Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove restrictions on access to Jerusalem’s Old City, and refrain from obstructing Muslim access to the mosque. They also urged the international community to take a firm stance to compel Israel to cease its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as violations of the sanctity of these places.
