The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and the African Union Commission have condemned what they describe as the continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli authorities, warning that the move could escalate tensions in the region.
In a joint statement released on Friday, the three organisations reaffirmed the central importance of Jerusalem and stressed the religious significance of the Al-Aqsa compound to Muslims worldwide.
They criticised restrictions preventing Muslim worshippers from accessing the site, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, describing the measures as a violation of the historical and legal status quo governing Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city.
“The continued closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslim worshippers constitutes a grave violation of established religious rights and freedom of worship,” the statement said. It added that the restrictions amounted to “a provocation to the feelings of Muslims throughout the world”.
Israel, which the organisations referred to as the occupying power, was said to bear “full responsibility for the consequences of these illegal and provocative measures”. The statement warned that the continued restrictions risk fuelling further violence and undermining regional and international peace.
The groups also reiterated their position that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. They rejected what they described as attempts to alter the city’s demographic and geographic character or undermine its Arab, Islamic and Christian identity.
According to the statement, the Al-Aqsa compound – also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif – covers about 144 dunums and is “a place of worship exclusively for Muslims”.
The organisations called on the United Nations Security Council and the wider international community to intervene, urging Israeli authorities to reopen the mosque and lift restrictions preventing Palestinians from accessing Jerusalem.
They also referenced several UN resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 252, United Nations Security Council Resolution 267 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 476, which address the legal status of Jerusalem and call for the protection of the city’s holy sites.
The statement reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. It also renewed backing for international efforts aimed at achieving a two-state solution as a pathway to a lasting peace in the Middle East.
