File Photo: Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City. AFP
In a statement on Thursday, the council rejected what it called restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities that prevent worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s Old City, saying the measures violate international law and international humanitarian law and undermine the historical and legal status quo governing the city’s Islamic and Christian holy sites.
In a statement, the council reiterated that Al-Aqsa Mosque, which spans about 144 dunums, is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims.
It urged the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and take firm action to halt what it described as Israeli violations against the mosque and other religious sites in Jerusalem, while ensuring respect for freedom of worship and the sanctity of holy places.
The closure comes amid growing regional criticism of restrictions on access to the mosque during the final days of Ramadan.
Eight Muslim-majority countries, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, have also condemned the move in a joint statement, describing it as a “flagrant violation” of international law and criticizing Israeli authorities for preventing worshippers from entering the compound and imposing tight security restrictions around Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Arab League similarly expressed deep concern over the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the surrounding Noble Sanctuary, saying the measures represent an infringement on freedom of worship and a violation of the historical and legal status quo governing Jerusalem’s holy sites.
Footage circulating online in recent days has shown the Al-Aqsa compound largely empty, an unusual scene during the final and typically busiest days of Ramadan.
According to the Jerusalem Governorate, Israeli authorities have kept the mosque closed for 12 consecutive days, citing security concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
The governorate said the closure has prevented Muslims from performing Friday prayers, Taraweeh prayers, and Itikaf, the traditional spiritual retreat observed during the final days of the holy month.
An imam at the mosque, speaking anonymously to Al Jazeera, said the compound’s prayer halls and courtyards have remained largely deserted. “Al-Aqsa is sad, there is no one in its courtyards,” he said, noting that in previous years tens of thousands of worshippers would gather nightly during the final days of Ramadan.
Palestinian officials say access to Jerusalem’s Old City has also been heavily restricted, with entry limited mainly to residents and a small number of traders.
The Al-Aqsa compound, Islam’s third holiest site, has long been a focal point of tensions in Jerusalem and is one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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