A report coming from occupied Jerusalem raises a question that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: Is everything happening with Al-Aqsa Mosque merely a matter of security, or is there a deeper, long-term plan at work behind it?
The way the Al-Quds Foundation has described the situation is both shocking and thought-provoking. The mosque was kept closed for 40 days, even during a time when Ramadan was ongoing and the important occasion of Eid al-Fitr also fell within that period. The question is: was shutting every door to worship in the name of “security” really the only option?
Then the mosque is opened, but shortly after, worshippers are cleared out and the space is emptied. For whom? According to the report, for hundreds of settlers who arrive in groups, sing, dance, blow horns, and perform activities like “epic prostration.” Isn’t this the same place that Muslims around the world consider a sacred place of worship?
And most importantly—who has the authority to open and close the mosque? The Islamic Waqf, which has traditionally overseen it, or the Israeli police? If decisions are being made elsewhere, then isn’t this a gradual process of shifting control?
The Al-Quds Foundation claims that all of this is part of a larger plan: first weaken authority, then take administrative control, and ultimately change its identity. If that is the case, then this is not just a local issue, but a matter concerning historical and religious heritage.
The foundation has clearly stated that this issue is no longer within the control of any single party. It has called on the Arab and Islamic world to unite and take action. At the same time, Jordan has also been reminded that its historic role is increasingly being reduced to just paperwork.
The most important point that emerges is that presence on the ground is the real strength. Palestinians have been urged to maintain their presence at the mosque, because when decisions are made from afar and rights are gradually taken away, remaining silent can prove to be the greatest loss.
Now the question is not just what is happening at Al-Aqsa—the question is how the world is viewing it, and how long it will continue to just watch.