Israel’s closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an act of war
Israel’s Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque Marks an Act of War
Following the US-Israeli strike on Iran last weekend, Israeli occupation forces swiftly moved to close both the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. Worshipers were removed from the sites, with closures framed as wartime “preventive measures” by authorities.
Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem lack bomb shelters in their homes, with no public alternatives available. According to data from Israel’s state comptroller, nearly half of the population in these territories has no secure refuge from aerial attacks.
Blocking access to mosques and forcing worshippers to remain in their homes, markets, or workplaces does not guarantee safety. In the context of the genocidal war in Gaza, Israeli authorities’ concern for Palestinian safety appears both insincere and ironic.
A Strategy of Religious Replacement
The closure of religious sites reflects a broader vision of erasing Islamic identity, championed by Israel’s Zionist government and its right-wing allies. Religious Zionists, now influential in Israeli society, refer to the Al-Aqsa complex as the Temple Mount. This term instills a psychological shift in adherents, who mentally discard its Islamic heritage.
Similarly, the Ibrahimi Mosque is recast as the Cave of the Patriarchs by the Zionist right. These redefinitions serve as tools to assert control over sacred spaces, undermining their traditional roles.
By imposing emergency measures to shut down the mosques, Israel seeks dual goals. First, it aims to solidify its dominance over these sites, sidelining Islamic administrators and dictating access terms. Second, it isolates the mosques during Ramadan, simulating a scenario for eventual seizure.
Historical Precedents of Control
Israel’s efforts to dominate Al-Aqsa’s management are not new. Over the past decade, the country has worked to diminish the waqf’s authority to manage the mosque’s openings and closings.
Key moments include the 2017 closure after a Palestinian attack on Israelis at the Lion’s Gate, followed by the installation of metal detectors. Mass resistance led Israel to rescind this decision. In 2020, Al-Aqsa was again shut during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite its open layout allowing easy social distancing. It remained closed for two months, including during Ramadan.
During the 12-day war in June 2025, Israeli authorities once more closed the mosque, aligning with previous patterns of control. This sequence of closures signals a growing confidence in Israel’s ability to dictate the mosque’s usage without challenge.
Ramadan as a Test Ground
The current Ramadan period has seen intensified aggression against Al-Aqsa. Israeli rabbis and activists have advocated for ritual animal slaughter at the mosque to commemorate Passover, targeting the site’s exclusivity for Muslim worship. During Ramadan, entry has been restricted to 10,000 worshippers, prioritizing elderly men and women, along with young children, under a “security” rationale.
From a month of heightened sensitivity, it has become a month for testing the machinery of elimination.
What is imposed during Ramadan sets a precedent for future restrictions, potentially paving the way for permanent occupation.
