League of Arab States
Date: 31/03/2026
The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the continued measures and restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on freedom of worship in the city of Jerusalem. These include restricting and preventing Christians from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and freely practising their religious rites during religious holidays, as well as preventing Muslim worshippers from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
It affirms that these measures constitute a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and a clear infringement of the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief. They also represent a breach of the established historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The General Secretariat further reiterates its categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and demographic character of the city of Jerusalem or to undermine its established status, and calls for respect for the custodianship over the holy sites and the preservation of their religious and historical character.
It also calls upon the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to act urgently to halt these violations, ensure the protection of holy sites, and guarantee unimpeded access for worshippers without restrictions or obstacles.
In this context, it stresses that the continuation of such policies will further exacerbate tensions and undermine prospects for achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
It also underscores the necessity of adhering to relevant international legitimacy resolutions, including those of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly, which affirm the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and the rights of the Palestinian people.
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