Doha: The foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt have strongly condemned and rejected Israel’s ongoing restrictions on freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem.

In a joint statement, the ministers denounced measures preventing Muslim worshippers from accessing the Blessed Al Aqsa Mosque/Noble Sanctuary, as well as restrictions imposed on Christian clergy, including preventing the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to conduct Palm Sunday Mass.

The ministers reiterated their firm rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. They stressed that such actions constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and infringe upon the fundamental right to access places of worship.

They further emphasized their absolute rejection of restrictions targeting both Muslim and Christian worshippers, noting that such measures hinder the free practice of religious rites. The statement reaffirmed that Israel, as the occupying power, holds no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and must respect the established status quo.

The ministers also condemned the continued closure of the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque to worshippers for 30 consecutive days, including during the holy month of Ramadan. They warned that these escalating actions pose serious risks to regional and international peace and security, calling for an immediate halt to all measures obstructing access to religious sites in Jerusalem.