Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces
Mosque in occupied Jerusalem today,
Jerusalemite sources and eyewitnesses reported that successive groups of settlers began storming Al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning from the direction of the Mughrabi Gate, whose keys have been controlled by the occupation authorities since 1967. The intruders carried out provocative tours in the mosque's courtyards and received explanations about the alleged "Temple," amidst heavy security from Israeli special forces who were deployed in the courtyards to secure the route of the incursions.
Time and space division plans
These incursions come within the context of ongoing attempts by settler groups, with Israeli political support, to impose a new reality at Al-Aqsa Mosque aimed at entrenching its temporal and spatial division . This plan seeks to allocate specific times and places for Jewish prayer within the Al-Aqsa compound, similar to what was imposed at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. This is categorically rejected by Palestinians and the Islamic Waqf Department as a blatant violation of the mosque's Islamic identity.
Historical and legal status (status quo)
These practices violate the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stipulates that the mosque is a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, under the custodianship of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. Since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, the occupying authorities have attempted to alter this status quo by facilitating settler incursions and imposing age and time restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshippers, particularly during Jewish holidays.
Religious and political significance
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds exceptional importance as the first Qibla (direction of prayer) and the third holiest site in Islam, and it constitutes a central symbol in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Violations against Al-Aqsa often lead to widespread tensions on the ground, extending to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and prompting international and regional condemnation. Arab and Islamic countries view these incursions as a provocation to the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide, making the Al-Aqsa compound a flashpoint that could ignite crises in the region at any moment.
