Israel Closes Al-Aqsa Mosque During Ramadan, Faces Condemnation

Israeli authorities have closed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City to Muslim worshippers for more than two weeks during the holy month of Ramadan, prompting widespread condemnation from several Arab and Muslim-majority countries that described the move as a violation of international law and the site's longstanding status quo.

The restrictions began at the start of Ramadan, limiting access primarily to Palestinians over the age of 55, with entrants facing searches and occasional detentions by security forces. The full closure took effect on February 28, barring all entry, including for mosque staff and guards. Officials cited security concerns amid regional tensions as the reason for the measures, which have prevented tens of thousands of worshippers from performing prayers at the site, Islam's third-holiest mosque.

In a joint statement issued on March 11, foreign ministers from Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates expressed their "absolute rejection and condemnation" of the closure. They argued that the restrictions on access to the Old City and its holy sites flout international humanitarian law, the...