Amman, March 11 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s continued closure of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif to worshipers and preventing them from performing religious rituals, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

The ministry said the measure constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, the existing legal and historical status quo, and the right of unimpeded access to places of worship.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Fuad Majali expressed the Kingdom’s absolute rejection and condemnation of what he described as an illegal and unjustified measure, as well as Israel’s ongoing provocative actions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and against worshipers.

He stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites. He also called on Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately open the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and refrain from obstructing worshipers’ access to the site.

He also urged the international community to adopt a firm position that compels Israel to halt its violations and unlawful practices against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and to respect the sanctity of holy places.

Majali reaffirmed that the entire area of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which spans 144 dunums, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims. He added that the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem Affairs Directorate, affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, is the legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction to administer the compound and regulate entry to it.

//Petra// NQ