Occupation Continues to Close Al-Aqsa Mosque for the 18th Day.. The Decision Includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

SadaNews - The occupation authorities continue to close the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem for the eighteenth consecutive day, under "security" pretexts related to regional developments.

The Jerusalem Governorate has firmly rejected this measure, clarifying that its position does not stem from neglecting considerations related to the safety of worshippers, or minimizing the importance of preserving lives, but rather from a solid legal and political principle concerning the party exclusively authorized to manage the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and all the holy sites in Jerusalem.

It explained that the administration of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, including organizing entry to it and opening or closing its doors when necessary, is an exclusive authority of the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, which is affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places, based on the Hashemite guardianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which is internationally recognized and implicitly accepted by the occupation authorities themselves through agreements established for decades.

It noted that the recent experience during the COVID-19 pandemic serves as clear evidence of the competent authority; the decision to close Al-Aqsa Mosque at that time was not issued by the occupation police but by the Islamic Waqf Department itself, which took the decision voluntarily and responsibly, based on its duty to protect worshippers and limit the spread of the pandemic. This confirms that the management of the mosque's affairs, including exceptional closure decisions, is a fundamental right of the Waqf and not the prerogative of any other party.

It considered any intervention by the occupation police in closing Al-Aqsa Mosque or determining the mechanisms for accessing it as a direct infringement on these authorities, and an attempt to impose a new reality that strips the Waqf Department of its legal and religious role, undermining one of the most important pillars of the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem.

It pointed out that the danger of this measure lies not only in closing Al-Aqsa Mosque itself but also in establishing a dangerous precedent that paves the way for transforming this intervention into a systematic policy. When the occupation authorities monopolize the decision to open and close the holy sites, they can future hinder worship at any time, whether under the pretext of "security" or in response to pressures from colonial groups seeking to impose Judaizing realities in the Old City, primarily at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It continued: This behavior is not limited to Al-Aqsa Mosque alone but extends to include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reflecting a general trend toward security control over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, in clear violation of international law and the historical arrangements governing the management of these sacred places.