Al quds: The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar strongly condemned Israel's continued restrictions on religious freedom for Muslims and Christians in Al Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).

According to State Information Service Egypt, the ministers expressed their rejection of Israeli measures that prevent Muslim worshipers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as blocking the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custodian of the Holy Land from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday services.

In a joint statement released on Monday, March 30, 2026, the ministers reiterated their firm rejection of any Israeli attempts to alter the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. They stressed that Israel's ongoing measures constitute a serious violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and undermine the established legal and historical framework governing access to holy sites.

The ministers described these actions as a direct infringement on the unimpeded right of worshipers to reach their places of worship. They stressed that Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunams, is exclusively a place of Muslim worship, reaffirming that the administration and management of the mosque, including the regulation of access, fall under the jurisdiction of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.

They strongly urged Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift all closures and restrictions on access to the mosque and the Old City, ensuring that Muslim worshipers can freely reach the mosque and that Christians have unhindered access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The statement highlighted the urgent need to halt all actions that prevent worshipers from performing their religious duties.

The ministers warned that Israel's restrictive measures, including the closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for 30 consecutive days, risk undermining regional and international peace and security. The ministers also called on the international community to take decisive measures to ensure that Israel respects the sanctity of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al Quds and ceases all violations against worshipers.