The Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem said in a statement that "Israeli extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Mughrabi Gate towards the Chain Gate."
For its part, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday Ben Gafir’s storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its continued closure, considering it an unacceptable provocation.
The ministry said in a statement that it condemned “the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque today by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, under the protection of the Israeli occupation police,” adding that this constitutes a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian law, an unacceptable provocation, and a violation of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the historical and legal status quo therein.
The Kingdom affirmed its condemnation of Israel's attempt to impose a temporal and spatial division by force of occupation in occupied Jerusalem, adding: "Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites."
Jordan also renewed its condemnation of “Israel’s continued closure of the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque to worshippers and the restriction of freedom of worship,” and warned of the danger of the continuation of this situation, stressing that Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its entire area of 144 dunams, is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the "Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department" affiliated with Jordan is the legal and exclusive authority with jurisdiction over the management of Al-Aqsa Mosque affairs.
The Jerusalem Waqf Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, is the official supervisor of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Jerusalem (East) Waqf properties, according to international law, which considers Jordan the last local authority supervising those holy sites before their occupation by Israel.
Jordan retained its right to oversee religious affairs in Jerusalem under the Wadi Araba peace agreement, which it signed with Israel in 1994.
In March 2013, Jordanian King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement giving Jordan "the right of guardianship and defense of Jerusalem and the holy sites" in Palestine.
Israeli authorities continue to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the 38th consecutive day under the pretext of security conditions, exploiting the closure to impose more control over the mosque, amid escalating Palestinian calls to reopen it.
Since February 28, Israel has closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, claiming it is to prevent gatherings during regional tensions, amid the Israeli-American war on Iran, and the latter's response to it, and with its expansion to include Lebanon on March 2.
However, last Monday, the Israeli police announced that they would allow only "limited prayers" at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, following international criticism from European countries after they prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ilbo, from reaching the church to celebrate Palm Sunday.
Palestinians that Israel is intensifying its attacks to Judaize the occupied city of Jerusalem, including its Christian and Islamic holy sites, and is working to obliterate its Arab identity.
