Arab League Condemns Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Last 10 Days of Ramadan

The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. (Wikimedia Commons/Andrew Shiva)

JAKARTA - The Arab League strongly condemned the continued closure by the Israeli occupation authorities of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif for worshipers, which prevents them from performing prayers and religious rituals, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan and its last ten nights.

The League described this action as a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as the legal and historical status quo that has been established at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif.

The Arab League called the action an unprecedented provocation against the feelings of nearly two billion Muslims around the world and a serious violation of freedom of worship and access to holy sites, as reported by WAFA (16/3).

The member states reiterated their absolute rejection and strong condemnation of this illegal and unjustified action, as well as Israel's attempts to justify it by citing current regional developments.

The group also condemned the provocative actions that continue to be carried out by the Israeli authorities at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif and against the worshipers.

The Arab League stressed that Israel, as an occupying power, has no sovereignty over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including the city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.

They reaffirmed the sovereignty of the State of Palestine over all of East Jerusalem, as the capital of the State of Palestine.

The Arab League also reaffirmed the importance of the Hashemite Dynasty's historic guardianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, highlighting its vital role in protecting these sites and preserving their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity, as well as the established historical and legal status quo.

It was also emphasized that the Al-Aqsa/Al-Haram Al-Sharif Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunums, is a special place of worship for Muslims.

The statement also emphasized that the Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem, under Jordanian authority, is the only legitimate manager of the site, and confirmed that Israel, as an occupying power, has no right to restrict Muslim worship in the complex.

They warned that Israel's actions risked escalating tensions and posed a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.

To the international community, including the UN Security Council, the Arab League called on them to shoulder their responsibilities and take a firm position that forces Israel, as an occupying power, to stop the ongoing violations and illegal and illegitimate practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The League also urged an immediate end to violations of the sanctity of holy sites, respect for the right to freedom of worship, and adherence to the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sites.

In addition, the League calls for the reopening of all doors of the Al-Aqsa Mosque for worshipers, the removal of restrictions on Palestinian access to Jerusalem, respect for their freedom of worship, and compliance with relevant UN resolutions.