Gaza Herald — Fakhri Abu Diab, a Palestinian researcher and member of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Waqf, has warned of growing attempts to establish a Jewish prayer site inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, particularly in its eastern section, amid escalating incursions and restrictions on Palestinian worshippers.
Abu Diab told Sana News Agency that current political conditions, including the influence of Israel’s far-right government, have created what he described as a favorable environment for so-called Temple groups to advance efforts to change the religious and historical status quo at Al-Aqsa.
He warned that these groups increasingly seek to treat the compound as a Jewish place of worship, with Israeli authorities allowing settlers to perform religious rituals during incursions while imposing restrictions on Palestinian worshippers and mosque guards.
According to Abu Diab, more than 500 Israeli settlers entered the compound as incursions marking the Hebrew New Year began, while Israeli occupation forces restricted Palestinian access, opened only designated gates and prevented mosque guards from approaching the routes used by settlers.
He said Israeli authorities also restricted photography of settlers performing religious rituals inside the compound, limiting documentation of what was taking place.
Abu Diab warned that the Jewish holidays, including Yom Kippur and Sukkot, could bring further attempts to impose a new reality at Al-Aqsa, including efforts by extremist groups to introduce religious symbols and perform rituals inside the compound.
He accused Israel’s far-right government of providing political and security protection for these groups while systematically weakening the authority of the Islamic Waqf and undermining Jordan’s custodial role at the holy site.
Abu Diab said the greatest concern is that Israel could gradually impose a spatial division of Al-Aqsa similar to the division imposed at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, eventually establishing a permanent or mobile Jewish prayer space within the compound.
He also pointed to mounting restrictions on Palestinians seeking to reach Al-Aqsa, saying nearly 1,000 removal orders have been issued this year, while thousands more Palestinians have faced restrictions at checkpoints and barriers leading to Jerusalem’s Old City.
Abu Diab warned that the growing influence of Israeli far-right groups within government institutions could accelerate attempts to alter Al-Aqsa’s Islamic identity and impose Israeli control over parts of the compound, particularly its eastern section.
He called for greater Palestinian, Arab and Islamic attention to developments at Al-Aqsa, warning that without effective pressure to preserve the historic status quo, current restrictions and incursions could pave the way for more permanent changes at one of Islam’s holiest sites.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
