Status quo Al-Aqsa semakin terancam, kata pegawai waqaf

The status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque continues to deteriorate, according to Mustafa Abu Sway, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Waqf Council at Baitulmuqaddis. Abu Sway, who holds the position of integral first Chair of the Ghazali Scholars at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds University, urged ministers and top leaders to speak about Masjid Al-Aqsa to prevent Israeli encroachments and coordinate further steps with Jordan.

Over the past few years, the situation has worsened due to increasingly stringent restrictions imposed on Muslims, especially the youth, women, and occasionally the elderly, who seek to enter the holy site. Israeli security forces are reportedly preventing people from freely moving and worshipping at Al-Aqsa, effectively denying them their rights at the site.

Abu Sway, who is also a member of the Dana Bani Hashim for the Restoration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Kubah As-Sakhrah, highlighted the challenges posed by the status quo established by the Ottoman Decree in the 19th century, which allowed Muslims to worship at Al-Aqsa while permitting non-Muslims to visit under Islamic Waqf administration.

This arrangement has faced significant challenges since 2000, following the provocative visit of then-Israeli hardliner Ariel Sharon to the site, which triggered the second Palestinian intifada. In recent years, under the leadership of Israeli National Security Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has changed the rules, allowing worshippers on specific occasions, but denying Muslims access to certain areas of the mosque.

Abu Sway warned that these developments pose a significant threat to the historical status quo of the mosque and pose a grave risk. Politicians often increase their support by making irresponsible statements about Al-Aqsa, a trend that has led to the rise of extremist elements attempting to breach the mosque. The narrative fails to acknowledge Al-Aqsa in any form, only referring to it as the 'Temple Mount'.

This omission is crucial, as Israel rarely mentions Al-Aqsa in their petitions to the Israeli High Court, instead focusing on 'Temple Mount'. This serious issue could escalate regional conflicts and undermine the Muslim and global Islamic identity of Al-Aqsa, connected to the Prophet Muhammad's Isra and Mi'raj. The entire Muslim world, including Southeast Asia, as well as Arab and international communities, must acknowledge Jordan's role in protecting the holy site and demand more active involvement from Arab, Muslim, and allied nations in ensuring safety and stability.

Abu Sway called for ministers and top leaders to speak about Al-Aqsa Mosque to halt the incursions and coordinate further steps with Jordan. Ultimately, ending the occupation and returning to a two-state solution requires serious action plans, as no security can be achieved without acknowledging the religious, historical, and political rights of the Palestinian people.