Al-Aqsa Preacher Warns of Escalating Israeli Entries, New Religious Reality

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, has issued a strong warning regarding the increasing number of Israeli incursions into the mosque compound, particularly during Jewish holidays. He stated that these recent developments are not merely repetitions of past entries but signify an expansion of public practices and rituals within the mosque. Sabri described the events during Jewish holidays as a shift in the nature of aggressions against Al-Aqsa, with previously limited practices now being allowed and gradually solidified as an established reality protected by police.

Sabri emphasized that the danger lies not only in the act of entry itself but also in the accompanying steps and practices, which he believes aim to alter the mosque's status quo. He asserted that "every new ritual allowed, every step passed, and every Israeli official entering the mosque and performing their rituals there are matters intended to transition over time from an exception to a fait accompli." He warned that the continued allowance of such practices could lead to their entrenchment, transforming limited procedures into recurring events within Al-Aqsa, especially during Jewish holidays.

Sabri reiterated that Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its entire area of 144 dunams, is exclusively an Islamic mosque for Muslims. He stressed that imposing any new rituals within it does not change its identity and considers these attempts as paving the way for temporal and spatial division. September alone saw repeated incursions, with 1,731 settlers entering on the Monday prior to the statement. These entries are part of escalating actions during Jewish holidays, accompanied by expanded public practices within the mosque, prompting Sabri's warnings about the repercussions.

He pointed out that treating these practices as isolated incidents might obscure the gradual change he perceives. According to his view, allowing a new practice paves the way for its later establishment as a routine. Statistics from the Jerusalem Governorate indicate that over 40,661 settlers have entered Al-Aqsa since the beginning of the year until the end of August. Additionally, approximately 800 Palestinians from Jerusalem were banned from Al-Aqsa from the start of the year until early September. These figures coincide with ongoing September incursions, while Sabri warns that the expanding scope of practices and rituals could lead to the consolidation of a new reality concerning the site's use and religious identity.