Palestinian officials fear Israel is using Iran strikes to tighten control over Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israel closed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday without giving any confirmation on when it will reopen the complex for Palestinian worshippers.
Aoun Bazbaz, director of international affairs, diplomacy, and tourism at the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, told Middle East Eye that he was concerned Israel was using its escalation with Iran as cover to take further control of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Israelis have claimed that the closure was to ‘protect the people’ - but only Waqf employees have been allowed to enter Al-Aqsa since,” Bazbaz said, adding that the real problem is that no guarantees were given about when it will reopen. "That uncertainty is deeply suspicious,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that Israel is using the current war conditions to impose new restrictions and create new facts on the ground,” he told MEE. He added: “While the world - and particularly the Islamic world - is focused on Gaza and Iran, Israel is quietly advancing its plans at Al-Aqsa.”
Bazbaz said that for over 20 years, Israelis have been working on dividing the mosque in terms of time and space and "99 percent of that plan has now been implemented. The daytime hours are for raids and tourists. It’s become the new normal”.
Bab al-Rahma, the eastern section of the complex, has been given another name. It has effectively become a place of worship for settlers - an undeclared temple. "Just yesterday, they were dancing there, thanking [National Security Minister] Ben Gvir for what he’s done at Al-Aqsa,” he said.
He added that the changes in the last six or seven months have been incredibly fast that even the media has not fully covered what is happening. "I told my wife yesterday, based on what I've seen recently, I wouldn’t be surprised if they soon force worshippers to book appointments through an app just to pray at noon or in the evening," Bazbaz added.
“Now, with the war on Iran, we are seriously concerned that even more restrictions are coming.”