RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta — The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Qatar strongly condemned and rejected the continued restrictions imposed by Israel on the freedom of worship for Muslims and Christians in occupied Jerusalem.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the ministers highlighted Israel’s actions in preventing Muslim worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, as well as barring the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the Palm Sunday Mass.

The ministers also reiterated their condemnation of any Israeli attempts to alter the legal and historical status quo at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. According to them, such measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and infringe upon the right of free access to places of worship.

Furthermore, the ministers affirmed their absolute rejection of what they described as illegal Israeli policies restricting Muslims and Christians, including limiting Christian access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to perform their religious rites. They stressed the importance of respecting the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and reaffirmed that Israel, as the occupying Power, holds no sovereignty over the occupied city.

The ministers also condemned the closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque for 30 consecutive days, including during the holy month of Ramadan, describing it as a serious violation of international law and Israel’s obligations as an occupying Power. They warned that such escalatory measures could threaten regional and international peace and security.

In their statement, the ministers emphasized that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, covering 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They also stated that the Jerusalem Endowments authority, under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, holds exclusive jurisdiction over the management of the site.

The ministers called on Israel to immediately reopen the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, lift access restrictions in the Old City of Jerusalem, and refrain from obstructing Muslim worshippers. They also urged the international community to take a firm stance to halt ongoing violations and illegal practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and to preserve the sanctity of these places.