Jerusalem:Minister of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites, Dr. Mohammad Khalaileh, has issued a warning regarding the "unprecedented" escalation occurring in occupied Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which is coinciding with Jewish holidays.
According to Jordan News Agency, Khalaileh stated that the events represent a "systematic" effort to impose a new reality within the mosque. He highlighted that violations have intensified through successive mass incursions led by senior rabbis and Israeli officials, supported by official political and religious cover, aiming to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Reports and field data from the Jordan-run Jerusalem Awqaf Department indicate a "tight" siege imposed on the mosque. There are restrictions on the entry of worshippers and defenders, while incursions by settlers, rabbis, and extremists are facilitated. Talmudic rituals are reportedly being performed inside the compound under the protection of Israeli occupation police.
Khalaileh expressed concern over the exploitation of Jewish holidays as a cover for imposing temporal and spatial divisions and the continued targeting of Jerusalem Awqaf Department staff through expulsion orders and physical assaults. He emphasized that these actions violate Jerusalem's historical and legal status quo.
He reiterated Jordan's commitment to confronting these violations and warned of their potentially catastrophic consequences for the region. Khalaileh affirmed the Kingdom's dedication to the Hashemite Custodianship's historical and religious responsibilities, aiming to protect the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its Islamic identity.