Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway, a member of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Council, said, "There was no protection, I was completely alone at Al-Aqsa. I couldn't hold back my tears." He recalled that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, congregants were at least partially allowed inside.
Waqf officials claim the eastern part of Al-Aqsa, known as Bab al-Rahma, has been "effectively turned into a Jewish temple." In recent months, Israeli flags have reportedly been raised there frequently, and some settlers have performed religious rituals.
The movement of Al-Aqsa staff has also been restricted. Waqf employees are only allowed to enter through certain gates during specific hours, and the areas they can access inside the mosque are determined by the police. Staff describe this as a "gradual transfer of control."
Commenting on the situation, Abu Diab said Israel is applying a double standard: "Jewish worshippers have free access to the Western Wall, but we are being denied entry to our sacred site."
