International Report Warns: Al-Aqsa 'Status Quo' Agreement Collapsed, Turned into a Time Bomb

An international press report revealed a serious deterioration in the legal and historical status of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, confirming that the agreement that regulated prayer at the site since 1967 has effectively collapsed. The report clarified that this collapse resulted from continuous pressure from extremist Jewish groups enjoying direct support from ministers in the current Israeli government.

The report indicated that the first days of Ramadan witnessed an unprecedented escalation, represented by Israeli police raiding prayer areas during Tarawih prayers and arresting the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque. These actions reflect a new direction among Israeli security agencies, which are now under the supervision of far-right leaders seeking to change the identity of the holy site.

Sources quoted experts in Jerusalem affairs as saying that the current policy aims to end the exclusivity of prayer for Muslims in the Noble Sanctuary, which constitutes a clear violation of the Status Quo. Israeli authorities now allow settlers to perform Talmudic rituals and raise their voices in prayers inside the courtyards, a step that was strictly forbidden in past decades.

In the context of restricting the Islamic administration of the mosque, sources in the Waqf Department reported that the 'Shin Bet' launched a campaign of arrests and expulsions targeting dozens of employees and guards. The measures also included preventing the entry of imams and administrative staff, which weakened the Waqf's ability to manage the affairs of thousands of worshippers who flock during the holy month.

The violations did not stop at arrests but extended to include the sabotage of administrative offices belonging to the Waqf and preventing any necessary maintenance work in the mosque's facilities. Sources stated that authorities prevented the installation of protective sunshades or the establishment of field medical clinics to serve worshippers, and even went as far as preventing the entry of essential health supplies.

Lawyer Daniel Seidemann, an expert in Jerusalem affairs, believes that what is happening is a display of power and control aimed at forcing Palestinians to accept a new reality. Seidemann stressed that the real threat to the sanctity of the holy site is the primary driver of unrest, warning that the current situation is more sensitive than ever before.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is openly leading these changes, having repeatedly expressed his desire to build a Jewish synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa courtyards and raise the Israeli flag there. Ben-Gvir has carried out a series of provocative incursions, supported by government decisions that facilitate the entry of settlers and unilaterally extend their presence hours in the mosque.

For his part, Amjad Iraqi, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, considered that the current Ramadan carries exceptional risks due to the confluence of complex political and field factors. He explained that the current Israeli government feels complete impunity, making it indifferent to international warnings or regional reactions to its violations in Jerusalem.

Field data indicate that Jerusalem police, led by Afshalom Peled, have begun implementing policies that allow settlers to bring prayer books and hymns into the Sanctuary. These changes, which were previously considered a 'red line,' are now a daily practice carried out under heavy protection from occupation forces, which provokes anger in the Palestinian street.

The report stated that the Jerusalem Governorate monitored the prevention of more than 25 Waqf employees from performing their work, in an attempt to empty the mosque of its official guards and custodians. These measures coincide with intensive calls from alleged 'Temple' groups to intensify incursions during the upcoming Jewish holidays, increasing the likelihood of a comprehensive confrontation.

Historically, violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque have been a cause for major intifadas and popular uprisings, such as the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000 following Sharon's visit to the site. Today, observers warn that continued tampering with the Status Quo could lead to an uncontrollable explosion, especially given the escalating tension in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The Islamic Waqf Department, affiliated with Jordan, faces unprecedented challenges in maintaining its role as the sole body responsible for managing the site under Hashemite custodianship. Increasing Israeli pressure aims to marginalize the Waqf's role and turn it into a ceremonial entity with no actual authority on the ground, which is rejected by both the Palestinian and Jordanian sides.

Amidst this grim scene, extremist groups continue to mobilize their supporters to carry out mass incursions, with recent days recording the entry of hundreds of settlers who performed provocative dances. These scenes, circulated on social media platforms, increase the state of tension and push towards spontaneous or organized field reactions.

In conclusion, experts agree that the 'Status Quo' no longer exists except on paper, while Israel imposes a new reality based on temporal and spatial division. This radical shift places the international community before its responsibilities to prevent the explosion of the 'time bomb' that could burn everything in the entire region.

Al-Aqsa is like a time bomb, and what we are witnessing today are repeated provocations that make the West Bank resemble a powder keg ready to explode.