Eight Nations Condemn Israeli Restrictions on Worship in Jerusalem, Reject Changes to Holy Site Status Quo
Amman – March 30, 2026 – The Foreign Ministers of eight countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye, issued a joint statement on Monday condemning Israel’s continued restrictions on Muslim and Christian worship in occupied Jerusalem.
The ministers denounced in the strongest terms the prevention of Muslim worshippers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the blocking of Christian leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass.
They described the measures as a “flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law,” as well as an infringement on the historical and legal status quo and the right of access to places of worship.
The statement specifically condemned Israel’s 30-day closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque / Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which continued through the holy month of Ramadan. It warned that such escalatory measures threaten regional and international peace and security.
Reaffirming that Israel is the occupying Power with no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem, the ministers stressed that the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa compound is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. They asserted that the Jordanian-run Jerusalem Endowments Department has exclusive jurisdiction to administer the site and regulate entry.
The ministers called on Israel to immediately cease all closures, remove access restrictions in the Old City, and refrain from obstructing worshippers. They also urged the international community to adopt a firm position to compel Israel to halt its “ongoing violations and illegal practices” against Islamic and Christian holy sites.
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