Indonesia and Seven Countries Condemn Israel's Closure of Al Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan

REPUBLIC.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Foreign Ministers from 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 denounce the Israeli occupation authorities who continue to close the gates of Al Aqsa Mosque or Al-Haram Al-Sharif for Muslim worshippers, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

“Security restrictions on access to Jerusalem's Old City and places of worship therein, together with discriminatory and arbitrary restrictions on access to other places of worship in the Old City, constitute a blatant violation of international law,” the ministers said in a joint statement received by the Republic on Thursday (12/3/2026).

The closure of Al Aqsa Mosque also means violating international humanitarian law, its historical status and applicable law, as well as the principle of unhindered access to places of worship.

The ministers reiterated their complete rejection and condemnation of such illegal and unjustified acts, as well as against Israel's continued provocative actions at Al Aqsa/Al-Haram Al-Sharif Mosque and against worshippers.

They stressed Israel has neither sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem nor over Islamic and Christian holy sites in the region.

The ministers reiterated that the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque area, which covers approximately 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.

They also affirmed that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which falls under the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, is the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque/Haram Al-Sharif and regulate access to the area.

"Israel, as the occupying power, must immediately stop closing the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, lift restrictions on access to the Old City of Jerusalem, and stop preventing Muslim worshippers from entering the mosque," the ministers said.

They also called on the international community to take a firm stance that compels Israel to stop its ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including violations of their sanctity.