Hamas Warns Israel is Paving the Way for Total Control Over Al-Aqsa Mosque

Hamas political bureau member Khaled Meshaal warned that ongoing Israeli actions and measures around the Al-Aqsa Mosque are paving the way for total control and domination over the holy site. Meshaal cited measures such as a reported 40-day closure, the imposition of temporal division to accommodate extremist Jewish groups, and efforts to create spatial division. These comments follow recent escalations, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touring tunnels beneath the complex and high-profile raids by hundreds of Israeli settlers and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

// Background

The Al-Aqsa Mosque complex is a 144-dunam Islamic holy site in Jerusalem's Old City. Under a decades-old status quo arrangement, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf administers the site's access, prayer, and maintenance. Palestinians and regional organizations accuse Israel of gradually undermining this status quo by permitting daily incursions, Jewish prayer, and structural interventions since occupying East Jerusalem in 1967.

// Key Developments

• Khaled Meshaal warns that Israeli measures are aiming for total domination over the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
• Specific Israeli measures cited include a reported 40-day closure and enforcement of temporal and spatial divisions.
• Netanyahu toured tunnels beneath the Al-Aqsa complex following recent mass raids by hundreds of settlers and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
• Meshaal outlined four counter-strategies, including a strategy of resistance and jihad, popular presence at the mosque, and activating regional Arab and Islamic support.
• The Muslim World League strongly condemned the recent raids, urging the international community to protect the legal status quo of the holy site.