Experts warn that a six-decade-old agreement regulating Muslim and Jewish prayer at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site has “collapsed” under pressure from Jewish extremists supported by the Israeli government.
This week, the arrest of an imam from al-Aqsa Mosque and an Israeli police raid during evening prayers on the first night of Ramadan marked a culmination of tensions. These tensions have been building due to a series of arrests of Muslim caretaker staff, bans on access for hundreds of Muslims, and increasing incursions by radical Jewish groups.
The actions by the Jerusalem police and the Shin Bet internal security agency—both now under far-right leadership—represent a break from the status quo agreement established after the 1967 war. That agreement stipulates that only Muslims are permitted to pray in the sacred compound surrounding the mosque, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, which also includes the seventh-century Dome of the Rock shrine. Jews refer to the site as the Temple Mount, the location of the First Temple from the 10th century BC and the Second Temple, which was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70.
Historically, changes to this status quo have shown the potential to ignite unrest and conflict in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories, with repercussions felt worldwide. A visit by then-Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon in 2000 sparked the second Palestinian intifada, which lasted five years. More recently, Hamas named its October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the Gaza war, the “al-Aqsa Flood,” citing Israeli violations at the Jerusalem mosque as provocation.
“Al-Aqsa is a detonator,” said Daniel Seidemann, a Jerusalem lawyer who regularly advises Israeli, Palestinian, and foreign governments on legal and historical issues in the city. “It’s usually around the same thing—a real or perceived threat to the integrity of sacred space. And that’s what we’re witnessing. There have been provocations frequently during Ramadan, but things are exponentially more sensitive now. The West Bank is a tinderbox.”
Tensions around al-Aqsa Mosque have escalated steadily as far-right Israelis have assumed key security positions. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir—who had eight criminal convictions before taking office, including for supporting a terrorist organization and incitement to racism—has stated his desire to raise the Israeli flag at the compound and build a synagogue there.
Over the past year, Ben-Gvir has made inflammatory visits to al-Aqsa and supported a series of unilateral changes to the status quo, allowing Jews to pray and sing in the compound. In January, he appointed an ideological ally, Maj. Gen. Avshalom Peled, as Jerusalem police chief. With the reported backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jews have been permitted to bring printed prayer sheets onto the site, marking increasingly clear violations.
“The status quo has collapsed because there are prayers on a daily basis,” Seidemann said. “In the past, the police were very strict about preventing any kind of provocation… but these measures are displays of ‘we’re in control here, get used to it or get out of the way.'”
In the lead-up to Ramadan this year, the Jerusalem Waqf—the Jordanian-appointed foundation responsible for managing the al-Aqsa site as part of the status quo agreement—has faced growing pressure. Waqf sources reported that five of its staff members were placed in administrative detention (detention without charge) this week by the Shin Bet, while 38 staff members have been banned from entering the site. Additionally, six imams from the mosque have been affected.They also said they had been denied entrance. According to officials, six Waqf offices have been ransacked in recent weeks, with staff prevented from rehanging doors or making other repairs. The Waqf has also been barred from installing shelters for sun and rain or setting up temporary clinics for worshippers. Officials even allege they have been stopped from bringing toilet paper onto the site.
The officials said these restrictions have collectively strained the Waqf’s ability to serve the 10,000 Muslims expected to pray at al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan. The Palestinian-run Jerusalem governorate provided different figures, reporting that 25 Waqf staff members have been banned and four detained. Neither the Jerusalem police nor the Shin Bet responded to requests for comment on these allegations.
In the first week of Ramadan, police extended morning visiting hours for Jews and tourists from three to five hours, another unilateral change to the status quo. On Monday, the imam of al-Aqsa, Sheikh Mohammed al-Abbasi, was detained inside the mosque courtyard, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Social media posts also showed police raiding the compound again on Tuesday evening during the first night prayers of Ramadan.
On Wednesday morning, an estimated 400 settlers entered the compound and, according to witnesses, sang, danced, and prayed aloud.
“There are so many ingredients that make this Ramadan especially dangerous,” said Amjad Iraqi, a senior Israel/Palestine analyst at the International Crisis Group. “Last year was relatively smooth, but this year there are a confluence of so many factors on the Israeli and Palestinian sides that may incentivise Temple Mount activists to try and create new alterations.”
“If in the past the Israeli government felt compelled to engage with regional powers, today they care much less about what they have to say and think,” Iraqi added.
“There has been a diffusion of impunity… Israelis have been able to accomplish a lot outside of the constraints they thought existed politically, militarily, and diplomatically, in Gaza and the West Bank. So why would they feel bound by international opinion?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the breakdown of the prayer arrangement at the AlAqsa Mosque compound framed in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does AlAqsa is a powder keg mean
Its a common metaphor meaning the situation at the AlAqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem is extremely tense volatile and has the potential to trigger a major outbreak of violence or a wider conflict with little warning
2 What is the sixdecade prayer arrangement thats breaking down
Since Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967 an informal but strictly enforced rule has been in place only Muslims are allowed to pray inside the AlAqsa Mosque compound NonMuslims including Jewish worshippers could visit but not pray there This arrangement is now being challenged and frequently violated
3 Why is the AlAqsa Mosque compound so important
It is one of the holiest sites in Islam believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven For Jews it is the Temple Mount the holiest site in Judaism the location of the two ancient Biblical Temples This deep religious significance for both faiths makes it a central national symbol for Israelis and Palestinians
4 Who manages the site daytoday
A Jordanian Islamic trust the Waqf administers the compound and the mosques within it Israeli security forces control access to the site and maintain overall security
5 Whats changing now
Increasing numbers of Jewish religious nationalists sometimes with Israeli police escort are entering the compound and conducting quiet prayers or religious rituals challenging the longstanding ban This is seen by Palestinians and many Muslims worldwide as a provocative attempt to change the status quo and a step toward dividing or claiming sovereignty over the site
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 What are Temple Mount activist groups and what do they want
These are Jewish organizations and individuals who advocate for the right to pray freely at the Temple Mount and for some the eventual rebuilding of a Jewish Temple there Their increased visits and activism are a primary driver of the current tensions
7 How does this relate to the broader IsraeliPalestinian conflict
AlAqsa is not just a religious site but a powerful national symbol Any perceived
