Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Monday condemned "in the strongest possible terms" the closure by Israeli police of the Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Haram Al Sharif gates in occupied Jerusalem and 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.

He said the Israeli measures constitute 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.

Al Qudah explained 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".

The spokesman said that 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.