Eight Arab and Muslim countries have jointly condemned Israel for keeping Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque closed for 12 consecutive days during the holy month of Ramadan. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar denounced the closure and related restrictions.

The ministers stated that the security restrictions and discriminatory bans on prayers and worship in Jerusalem and its mosques constitute a grave violation of international law and humanitarian norms. They rejected Israel’s actions against worshippers at Al-Aqsa and asserted that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The statement emphasized that the Al-Aqsa compound is exclusively for Muslims and that its administration belongs solely to Jordan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs through the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department.

The countries urged Israel to immediately reopen the mosque gates and allow Muslim worshippers access, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to end these violations.