Jerusalem, Israel — Several Muslim-majority countries have strongly criticised the government of Israel for closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period when millions of Muslims worldwide gather for prayers and religious reflection.
Okay News reports that eight Islamic and Arab nations issued a joint condemnation on Thursday after Israeli authorities restricted access to the mosque complex located in the Old City of East Jerusalem, a contested area claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.
The governments of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar released a coordinated statement through their foreign ministers, describing the closure as unlawful and provocative. The ministers said the decision prevented Muslim worshippers from reaching one of Islam’s most sacred religious sites during one of the most important periods of the Islamic calendar.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is located within the Temple Mount compound in the Old City of Jerusalem and is widely regarded as the third holiest site in Islam after the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, both located in Saudi Arabia. During Ramadan, tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslims traditionally gather at the site every Friday for communal prayers.
The closure comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched air strikes against Iran in coordination with the United States of America. The military actions have triggered a broader regional conflict involving several actors in the region.
In their joint statement, the eight foreign ministers criticised Israel’s decision and said continuing to block worshippers from the mosque was “illegal and unjustified” and “provocative” toward Muslim believers.
They further stated that the move represents “a flagrant violation to international law… and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship”.
Israeli authorities had earlier announced security measures affecting religious sites in the Old City. On Monday, March 9, 2026, police officials declared that all major holy sites within the Old City would remain closed temporarily in order to protect public safety.
The announcement stated that the closures applied to the Western Wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the Temple Mount complex, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity’s holiest pilgrimage sites.
Israeli officials said the decision was taken “to safeguard public safety and human life” following security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Access to the Old City has also been restricted since the beginning of the current hostilities. Israeli authorities have limited entry to residents and shop owners while preventing most other visitors and worshippers from entering the historic district.
The status of East Jerusalem remains one of the most sensitive and disputed issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel took control of East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed the territory. However, the annexation has not been recognised internationally, and much of the global community considers East Jerusalem to be occupied territory.
In their joint statement, the eight countries emphasised that Israel does not have sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem or its religious sites. They called on the Israeli government to immediately lift the restrictions and allow worshippers access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
The ministers warned that restricting religious access to such a significant site during the holy month risks escalating tensions further in an already volatile region.
