Israeli forces decided to shut down the Jerusalem Awqaf and Muslim Affairs offices inside the Aqsa Mosque Compound on Wednesday, deeming an alleged branch of the Awqaf Department a “terrorist organisation” in Israeli courts.

Israelis classified the Heritage Committee at al-Aqsa as an alleged “terrorist group” operating at the Golden Gate, the eastern gate of the Aqsa Compound.

Meanwhile, the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf issued a statement rejecting Israel’s decision to shut down the offices of the Jerusalem Awqaf Department, and asserting that it is the only official department in charge of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, and is fully-affiliated to the Jordanian government.

Furthermore, the Jordanian Ministry denied the existence of the “Heritage Committee”, the alleged branch that was shut down by Israel on account of terrorism.

The Jordanian Awqaf stressed that Jordan is the only guardian to all Islamic holy sites in Palestine, including Al Aqsa.

Jordanian custodianship of holy sites in Palestine was confirmed in the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty in 1994.

This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition