As Closure Enters Its Second Month: What Is the Occupation Planning at Al-Aqsa?

The Israeli occupation’s closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque has entered its second consecutive month, raising serious warnings over attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo of the holy site. Analysts caution that the prolonged closure is not a temporary security measure, but part of a broader strategy aimed at consolidating control, reshaping access to worship, and gradually imposing new realities that undermine Islamic authority over the Mosque.

Under the pretext of an “emergency situation” declared following the joint US-Israeli escalation against Iran on 28 February, occupation authorities have continued to block worshippers from entering Al-Aqsa entirely. Experts argue that this unprecedented closure, the first of its kind since the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, reflects a calculated effort to test both local and international reactions while advancing long-term objectives.

Legal Violations and the Status of Jerusalem

According to Monir Nuseibeh, Professor of International Law at Al-Quds University, the closure of Al-Aqsa even for a single day constitutes multiple violations under international law.

Jerusalem is recognised as an occupied city, with no sovereignty granted to the occupying power. Israeli military presence and settlement activity remain unlawful and must end, as affirmed by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued in July 2024.

Nuseibeh emphasises that emergency laws or directives issued by Israeli military authorities cannot legally apply to Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque. The site falls under the administration of the Islamic Waqf under Jordanian custodianship, not Israeli jurisdiction.

The closure also breaches the long-established “status quo” arrangement, a legal framework dating back to the Ottoman era that mandates the preservation of holy sites without alteration. Any restriction on the number of worshippers or complete denial of access constitutes a direct violation of this framework.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, including its courtyards, prayer halls, schools, and all associated structures, covers approximately 144 dunams and is considered exclusively Muslim property. Management of visitation and religious affairs remains the sole right of Muslims.

Furthermore, under the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power is obligated to respect religious practices, ensure access to places of worship, and refrain from collective measures that infringe upon religious rights. The ongoing closure directly contradicts these obligations.

Timing and Strategic Intent

Abdullah Maarouf, an academic and former media and public relations official at Al-Aqsa Mosque, warns against treating the closure as a routine development.

Reports indicate that the occupation intends to extend the closure until at least mid-April, a move Maarouf describes as extremely dangerous. He asserts that the timing is deliberate, particularly as the closure began during the middle of Ramadan, a period of heightened religious significance.

According to Maarouf, the closure is not connected to regional military developments but serves as a “practical test” for occupation police to implement major changes within the mosque once restrictions are lifted.

What Is Happening Inside Al-Aqsa During the Closure?

Maarouf reveals that fundamental changes are being implemented during the closure period, particularly in how the mosque is administered and controlled.

Among the measures imposed by the occupation authorities:

• Limiting the Islamic Waqf staff allowed to enter the mosque to just 25 individuals
• Requiring prior approval and detailed personal information for every individual entering Al-Aqsa
• Forcing staff to leave immediately upon completing their assigned duties

He also pointed to a deliberately provocative image circulated of an occupation police officer داخل the mosque, displaying a posture interpreted as a symbolic assertion of dominance. The image, accompanied by a visible date, was described as a calculated message that the occupation now views itself as the controlling authority over the site.

According to Maarouf, the occupation is signalling that it has become the sole administrative power within Al-Aqsa, disregarding both the Islamic Waqf authority and the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem.

Silence as Enabler

Maarouf further argues that the occupation no longer considers Palestinian public presence in Jerusalem a meaningful deterrent, believing that Palestinians are unable to impose their will regarding Al-Aqsa.

He attributes this shift in confidence to the lack of strong official Arab responses and the limited reaction from broader political and public frameworks throughout the past month.

This silence, he suggests, has emboldened the occupation to proceed with its plans unchecked.

Call for Real Deterrence

The analysis concludes that both popular and official deterrence are urgently required. Maarouf stresses the need for escalation in response, particularly given what he describes as the occupation’s internal vulnerability amid ongoing conflict.

He argues that the current moment presents an opportunity to challenge the occupation’s actions, rather than accepting the narrative it seeks to impose on Palestinians regarding its strength and control.