OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
The incursion of the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir into Al-Aqsa Mosque sparked a broad wave of Arab and Islamic anger, in light of its continued closure to Muslims for more than 35 days, and preventing them from performing prayers therein during the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
This incursion comes at a sensitive timing, amidst escalating warnings that it is not merely a symbolic step, but rather part of an integrated plan aimed at imposing new facts inside the Mosque, as a prelude to establishing greater settler incursions and imposing a form of temporal and spatial division.
A prelude to opening Al-Aqsa to settlers
In a direct reading of the implications of the incursion, the researcher specializing in Jerusalem affairs, Ziad Ibhais, stressed that Ben-Gvir’s entry into Al-Aqsa was not a passing measure, but rather a preparatory step to open the Mosque to settlers during the Jewish Passover.
He pointed out that this step comes after keeping the Mosque closed to Muslims throughout Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, which reflects a systematic policy based on restricting Islamic worship in exchange for expanding the scope of Jewish incursions.
This reading matches what was revealed by the Al-Quds International Foundation, which spoke of the Israeli tendency to open Al-Aqsa to groups of settlers, at a rate of 150 intruders in each group, in exchange for allowing the entry of an equal number of Muslim worshipers.
Establishing division and imposing “Equal Rights”
The Al-Quds International Foundation believes that this mechanism represents a practical attempt to impose “equal rights” between Muslims and settlers inside Al-Aqsa, which constitutes an advanced step towards establishing the actual division of the Mosque.
According to the foundation, this measure contradicts the nature of Islamic worship based on congregational prayer, as determining the numbers of worshipers is not consistent with the large area of the Mosque, which practically means keeping it closed to Muslims despite its formal opening.
It warns that this step represents a transition from the “sharing” project to imposing a priority for the Jewish presence inside the Mosque’s compound, within a broader context targeting its full Judaization.
Unprecedented closure during Ramadan
These developments came after a series of strict measures imposed by the occupation authorities during the month of Ramadan, which included preventing Tarawih prayers for twenty days, closing the Mosque during five consecutive Fridays, and preventing I’tikaf in the last ten days, leading up to preventing the Eid al-Fitr prayer.
This period also included attacks on worshipers and arrests, reflecting an unprecedented escalation in targeting religious rituals inside Al-Aqsa.
Despite the Israeli pretext of security conditions, data indicate that no fundamental change occurred in the field situation, which reinforces the hypothesis of employing these pretexts to impose a new reality inside the holy Islamic site.
Fears of canceling the Jordanian role
In parallel, fears are mounting of efforts to cancel or marginalize the role of the Islamic Awqaf affiliated with Jordan in managing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially after granting broader powers to the National Security Minister in this file.
The Al-Quds International Foundation believes that this shift places Ben-Gvir in the position of the actual controller of the decision to open and close the Mosque, which represents a fundamental change in the management of Al-Aqsa, and threatens the existing historical status quo.
The foundation called on Jordan to take practical steps to restore its role, by declaring the Mosque open without restrictions, and inviting worshipers to flock to it.
Official denunciations and warnings of escalation
On the official level, the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf condemned Ben-Gvir’s incursion, warning of its danger in light of the continued closure of the Mosque, and stressing that this step represents a blatant attack on a purely religious place for Muslims.
It also called for Arab, Islamic, and international action to stop these violations, lift the siege imposed on Al-Aqsa, and ensure freedom of worship therein.
For its part, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the incursion constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, and a violation of the existing historical and legal status quo, warning of attempts to impose temporal and spatial division inside the Mosque.
It stressed that Al-Aqsa, in its entire area, is a place of worship purely for Muslims, and that the Jordanian Awqaf Administration is the only body authorized to manage it.
Towards a new phase of Judaization
In light of these data, it seems that Ben-Gvir’s incursion represents a link within a broader escalatory path, seeking to reshape the reality in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, taking advantage of regional circumstances and the existing state of tension.
Analyses indicate that Israel is trying to move from a policy of limited incursions to imposing a permanent reality, based on opening the Mosque to settlers in an organized manner, in exchange for restricting the entry of Muslims.
With the continued closure, the escalation of settlement calls, and the increasing Israeli official interventions in the management of the Mosque, fears increase that Al-Aqsa is facing a pivotal stage, moving towards imposing new equations affecting its identity and historical status.
In light of these developments, Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic calls are intensifying to mobilize and break the siege on Al-Aqsa Mosque, considering that what is happening is no longer just scattered violations, but rather a systematic attempt to impose a new Judaization reality on one of the most prominent Islamic holy sites.