DaysofPal- Israeli authorities have emptied four facilities within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound that were used as offices by the Islamic Waqf, prompting warnings from Palestinian observers that the move forms part of an escalating campaign against the Jordanian-backed body responsible for administering the holy site.
The development was highlighted by the Al-Quds International Institution, a Palestinian organization that monitors developments in Jerusalem, which accused Israeli authorities of using “manufactured security pretexts” to target the facilities.
According to the organization, Israeli forces raided the buildings over recent months, broke their locks, and prevented Waqf officials from installing replacements. The facilities were subsequently left open, while anyone attempting to enter them was reportedly removed because the sites had been used for activities deemed a security threat.
The four affected locations include the Dome of Imam al-Ghazali, situated above the Bab al-Rahma prayer hall along the eastern wall of the Al-Aqsa compound; Dar al-Hadith al-Sharif in the northeastern section of the site; Qubbat Sulayman, an open-air domed shrine opposite King Faisal Gate; and Qubbat Musa, located near Bab al-Silsila, also known as the Chain Gate.
Observers noted that the facilities are positioned at the four corners of the Al-Aqsa compound, suggesting that their selection may have been deliberate rather than coincidental.
Concerns Over Expanding Israeli Control
The Al-Quds International Institution warned that emptying the facilities could pave the way for Israeli police to increase their presence and influence over landmarks and administrative spaces within the compound, potentially establishing a de facto authority alongside—or in place of—the Islamic Waqf.
The institution argued that the measures should be viewed within the broader context of previous Israeli actions at Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that they may represent a gradual effort to appropriate the sites and weaken the Waqf departments that operate from them.
“The consequences of these measures extend far beyond their already dangerous immediate effects,” the organization said, cautioning that the long-term implications could significantly alter the administration of the holy site.
A Site of Religious and Political Significance
Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, covers approximately 144,000 square meters within the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem. The walled compound contains dozens of prayer halls, shrines, schools, courtyards, and religious structures spread across the site.
Under the longstanding and internationally recognized status quo arrangement, administration and maintenance of the compound fall under the exclusive authority of Muslim institutions. Since Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, that responsibility has been carried out by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, a body appointed by Jordan.
In recent years, however, Waqf officials have repeatedly complained of increasing Israeli restrictions that have made it more difficult for staff to access the compound and carry out routine maintenance and restoration work.
Calls for Action
The Al-Quds International Institution called on Jordan to adopt a more serious strategy to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque and preserve its custodial role, arguing that diplomatic condemnations alone are no longer sufficient.
The organization also urged Arab and Muslim countries to recognize an existential threat to the mosque and to take greater responsibility for safeguarding the site.
The concerns come amid broader debates over the future administration of Al-Aqsa. Reports published in recent weeks have claimed that the United States and Israel have explored proposals that could alter Jordan’s historic custodianship over the mosque and introduce new management arrangements more closely aligned with Israeli interests. U.S. officials have denied the existence of such a plan.
For Palestinian observers and Waqf officials, the latest actions against the four facilities represent another step in a wider struggle over authority, access, and control at one of the most sensitive religious and political sites in the region.
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