Israel’s closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an act of war
Israel’s Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque Marks an Act of War
Immediate Closure Following Military Action
Within hours of the US-Israeli assault on Iran, Israeli forces swiftly shut down both the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Worshipers were evicted, with closures justified as wartime “preventive measures.”
Lack of Refuge for Palestinians
According to data from Israel’s state comptroller, approximately half of the population in the 1948 territories lacks access to bomb shelters. In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinians have no safe spaces to escape air attacks, leaving them vulnerable during military operations.
Religious Replacement as a Strategic Aim
Preventing access to mosques and restricting worshippers to their homes or workplaces does not inherently enhance safety. During the genocidal conflict in Gaza, the notion that Israeli authorities prioritize Palestinian well-being is not only dismissive but also deeply unsettling.
“Amid the genocidal war in Gaza, the idea that Israeli authorities are concerned for the safety of any Palestinian is not merely laughable; it is stomach-turning.”
The closures reflect a broader strategy of religious replacement driven by Israel’s Zionist leadership and its right-wing factions. Religious Zionists, now dominant in Israeli society, refer to the Al-Aqsa complex as the Temple Mount. Adherents often mentally erase its Islamic identity upon hearing this term. Similarly, the Ibrahimi Mosque is viewed by the Zionist right as the Cave of the Patriarchs.
Dual Objectives of the Mosque Closures
Israel’s emergency measures to close the mosques serve two main goals. First, they aim to solidify Israeli control over these sites, sidelining Islamic administrators and dictating access terms. In each instance, the Islamic waqf is left as a passive observer of imposed restrictions.
Second, the closures during Ramadan function as a trial run for future occupation. By isolating the mosques from worshippers, Israeli forces test their ability to restrict movement and assert dominance over sacred spaces, regardless of timing.
Historical Precedents of Control
The closures align with Israel’s decade-long efforts to diminish the waqf’s authority over the mosques. In 2017, following a fatal attack on Israelis at the Lion’s Gate, Israel closed the mosque and installed metal detectors. This decision was later reversed after widespread resistance.
During the 2020 pandemic, Al-Aqsa was again shut down under stringent “security” rules, even though its open layout could have easily accommodated social distancing. The closure lasted two months, including the holy month of Ramadan, signaling a pattern of control.
Escalating Aggression During Ramadan
Recent closures follow these precedents, reinforcing the idea that Israeli oversight of the mosques is becoming absolute. At the same time, aggression against Al-Aqsa has intensified during Ramadan, with reports of guards being denied shifts and essential supplies halted.
Early in the holy month, Israel imposed strict limits on Friday prayer attendance, capping entries at 10,000 Palestinians. The restrictions favored older individuals and children, effectively controlling who could access the site.
“From a month of heightened sensitivity, it has become a month for testing the machinery of elimination.”
Additionally, Israeli rabbis and activists have pushed for ritual animal slaughter at Al-Aqsa to commemorate Passover, further challenging the mosque’s status as a purely Islamic space. These actions underscore a systematic effort to redefine the sacred site’s purpose and authority.
