AMMAN, Monday, February 18, 2019 (WAFA) - The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the Israeli police closure of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem and the assaults on worshipers.

The ministry‘s official spokesman, Sufian al-Qudah, demanded that Israel, as the occupying power, "act in accordance with international law and immediately reopen the gates, respect the sanctity of the holy place, not hamper the entry of worshipers, withdraw security forces at the holy compound and respect the feelings of Muslims," according to Jordan news agency, Petra.

The spokesperson slammed the Israeli measures at al-Aqsa as "a flagrant violation of the historical and legal status quo and Israel‘s obligations under the international law and the international humanitarian law, as the occupying power, and held it fully responsible for the safety of the mosque."

He stressed that the Foreign Ministry is "following up on this dangerous development through various channels to secure the reopening of the gates and the restoration of calm to the Haram al-Sharif.”

He said the ministry had lodged a protest with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, in which it voiced the government‘s condemnation of the provocative Israeli actions against Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and demanded their immediate cessation, said Petra.

T.R.