Al-Aqsa Mosque Closure Enters Second Month: Plans to Impose Full Sovereignty and Change the 'Status Quo'

The closure of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation authorities enters its second consecutive month, amidst escalating warnings of the repercussions of the occupation's unilateral control over holy sites to change the existing historical and legal status. This step comes as part of persistent attempts to Judaize the site and withdraw administrative powers from the Islamic Endowments Department, exploiting current regional circumstances to impose new realities on the ground.

The occupation authorities cite the 'state of emergency' declared since the start of the military attack on Iran on February 28th as justification for the continued closure of the mosque and preventing worshippers from accessing it. Observers believe that this closure, which is the first of its kind for such a duration since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967, aims to establish a new equation for controlling worship and testing local and international reactions.

Legally, international law experts confirm that applying a state of emergency to occupied Jerusalem is a blatant violation, as the city is not subject to the sovereignty of the occupation according to international resolutions. Specialists emphasize that Al-Aqsa Mosque is under the administration of the Jordanian Endowments, and any infringement on the existing 'status quo' represents a breach of laws enacted since the Ottoman era that have preserved the identity of the site.

Reports indicate that the occupation plans to extend the closure until mid-April, which academics and Jerusalemites describe as an 'extremely dangerous' development. This timing, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, reflects the occupation's desire to conduct a 'practical test' of its ability to exercise full control and prevent large Palestinian gatherings in the heart of the holy city.

Amidst the ongoing closure, sources revealed significant amendments to how the mosque's affairs are managed, with the number of endowment employees allowed to enter reduced to only 25 people. The occupation police also imposed a strict system requiring prior knowledge of the identity of every entrant and the reason for their presence, forcing employees to leave immediately after completing their specific tasks.

Through these measures, the occupation authorities seek to send a message that they have become the 'sole administrative decision-maker' in Al-Aqsa Mosque, bypassing the Islamic presence and Jordanian custodianship. Sources have observed provocative actions by occupation soldiers within the courtyards, aimed at demonstrating absolute control and solidifying the reality of Israeli sovereignty over the entire 144 dunams.

The Fourth Geneva Convention obliges the occupying power to respect the religious beliefs and practices of the population under occupation, which the current closure violates daily. Preventing access to places of worship and disrupting religious rituals constitutes collective punishment affecting the fundamental rights of Palestinians, and contradicts the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued in July 2024.

Researchers in Jerusalem affairs believe that the occupation is now relying on the weakness of official Arab and international responses to push through its Judaization plans without real deterrence. The absolute silence regarding what is happening in Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre encourages the Israeli establishment to proceed with dismantling the status quo and replacing it with a direct security and military control system.

Field readings concluded that what is currently required is serious popular and official action to break the siege imposed on Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially given the fragile internal situation the occupation is experiencing due to multiple wars. The continued closure not only threatens freedom of worship but also warns of an explosion of the situation in the holy city with the ongoing provocation of the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world.

The closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque for a continuous month is not a fleeting measure, but a practical test to impose full occupation sovereignty and change the rules of the game in the holiest of holy sites.