CAIRO, March 12, 2026 (WAFA) – Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Yamahi condemned the continued imposition of strict measures by the Israeli occupation, including the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslim worshippers during the month of Ramadan. He considered these measures a blatant violation of freedom of worship and a flagrant transgression against the historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem.

In a statement issued today, Al-Yamahi emphasized that targeting the freedom of access for worshippers to Al-Aqsa and obstructing the performance of religious rites there constitutes a dangerous escalation and a provocation to the feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. He added that it also reflects the continuation of the occupation's policies aimed at imposing a new reality in the holy city and obliterating its Arab and Islamic identity.

He warned that any measures restricting access to the Ibrahimi Mosque or infringing upon freedom of worship there would ignite tensions and escalate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the entire region. He expressed his concern regarding the restrictions and violations affecting the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, including its closure and the prevention of worshippers from accessing it.

The Speaker of the Arab Parliament called upon the international community, the United Nations, and relevant international organizations to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities to protect the holy sites in Jerusalem and to compel the occupying power to respect the historical and legal status quo of the Islamic and Christian holy sites.

K.T