Cairo: Al-Azhar has issued a strong condemnation against the occupying entity for closing the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan, preventing them from performing their religious duties during this sacred period. Al-Aqsa Mosque is revered as the first of the two Qiblas and the third holiest site in Islam.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Al-Azhar released a statement on Friday, March 13, 2026, denouncing this act as a provocation to the feelings of Muslims worldwide. The statement highlighted that the closure is a flagrant violation of international law, which prohibits attacks on places of worship. Al-Azhar emphasized that the occupier's actions reflect an attempt to erase the Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, as well as a deliberate effort to undermine the joy of Muslims during their religious celebrations.