Israel’s Escalating Restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque Spark Global Outrage

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities have intensified restrictions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, banning two prominent Muslim preachers from entering the site and raising tensions amid a broader pattern of provocative actions by far-right Israeli officials. The moves, which include the recent hoisting of Israeli flags within the compound, have drawn sharp condemnation from Muslim-majority countries and international religious organizations.

Ban on Prominent Preachers

On April 27, 2026, Israeli police barred Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, two well-known Palestinian religious figures, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to reports by detikNews and Anadolu Agency. Both preachers have been vocal critics of Israeli policies at the holy site, which is administered by the Jordanian-run Islamic Waqf but remains under Israeli security control.

Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement’s northern branch in Israel, has been a frequent target of Israeli restrictions. He was detained multiple times in recent years for allegedly inciting violence, though his supporters describe him as a defender of Palestinian rights at Al-Aqsa. Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, has also faced repeated bans from the compound, which Israel justifies on security grounds.

The ban follows a series of measures by Israeli authorities that Palestinian and international observers say are eroding the long-standing status quo at the site. Under the arrangement in place since 1967, non-Muslims are permitted to visit the compound but not to pray there. However, Israeli officials and far-right activists have increasingly challenged these rules, with some calling for the construction of a Jewish temple on the site, which is known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Israeli Flags Raised Inside Al-Aqsa Compound

On April 26, 2026, Israeli police and far-right activists raised Israeli flags within the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, an act that Palestinian officials and Muslim leaders described as a deliberate provocation. The incident was widely circulated on social media and condemned by the foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, who issued a joint statement calling the action a “violation of international law and the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.”

The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), Indonesia’s top Islamic clerical body, issued a separate statement denouncing the flag-raising as “a dangerous escalation that risks igniting further conflict.” The MUI called on the international community to pressure Israel to respect the status quo and end what it described as “systematic provocations” at the site.

The Israeli government has not directly addressed the flag-raising incident but has previously defended the right of Jewish visitors to display national symbols at the site. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician who has repeatedly visited the compound in defiance of Palestinian protests, has been a vocal advocate for expanding Jewish prayer rights at Al-Aqsa. His visits have frequently sparked clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers.

Restrictions on Worshippers During Ramadan

The latest restrictions come amid heightened tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which concluded on April 27, 2026. Palestinian worshippers reported being denied access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque for nightly prayers, known as taraweeh, during the final days of the month. The compound, which typically draws tens of thousands of worshippers during Ramadan, saw significantly reduced attendance due to Israeli-imposed limits on entry.

In a statement to Haaretz on March 16, 2026, a Palestinian official warned that the closure of Al-Aqsa during Ramadan could fuel further unrest. “If Israel emerges from the war feeling weakened or frustrated, there is a fear that this anger could be directed toward Palestinians,” the official said, referring to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran and regional tensions.

International Reactions and Fears of Escalation

The recent actions at Al-Aqsa have drawn widespread condemnation from Muslim-majority nations and international organizations. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a statement on April 27, 2026, calling on Israel to “immediately cease all violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque” and urging the United Nations to intervene.

Jordan, which serves as the custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem under the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, summoned the Israeli ambassador to Amman to protest the latest restrictions. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry described the measures as “a blatant violation of international law and the historical status quo.”

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the actions, warning that Israel’s policies at Al-Aqsa risked igniting a “religious war.” In a statement released by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Abbas called on the United States and other international actors to pressure Israel to reverse its “dangerous escalation.”

Historical Context and the Status Quo

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in Jerusalem’s Old City, is the third-holiest site in Islam. It has been a flashpoint for decades, with tensions frequently erupting over access, security measures, and attempts by Jewish groups to assert greater control over the site. The status quo arrangement, which has governed the site since Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War, grants Muslim worshippers exclusive prayer rights while allowing non-Muslim visitors to enter during limited hours.

In recent years, however, Israeli officials and far-right activists have increasingly challenged these rules. The 2000 visit by then-opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the compound, accompanied by hundreds of Israeli police officers, sparked the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising that lasted until 2005. Since then, Israeli governments have periodically imposed restrictions on Palestinian access to the site, particularly during Jewish holidays or periods of heightened security concerns.

Experts warn that Israel’s recent actions at Al-Aqsa could further destabilize the region. In an interview with Jerusalem Story, a researcher at the Ir Amim Association, an Israeli nonprofit that monitors developments in Jerusalem, described the situation as “a deliberate attempt to change the status quo and assert Israeli sovereignty over the site.” The researcher added that such moves risked “provoking a violent backlash not only in Palestine but across the Muslim world.”

What Comes Next?

As of April 28, 2026, Israeli authorities have not indicated whether they will reverse the bans on Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Ekrima Sabri or address the international condemnation of the flag-raising incident. Palestinian officials have called for mass protests and diplomatic pressure to force Israel to restore the status quo at Al-Aqsa, while far-right Israeli groups have vowed to continue their efforts to expand Jewish access to the site.

The United Nations has not yet issued a formal statement on the latest developments, but diplomats say the issue is likely to be raised at the upcoming session of the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, Jordan and Egypt, which have played key roles in mediating past crises at Al-Aqsa, are reportedly engaging in behind-the-scenes efforts to de-escalate tensions.

For now, the future of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound remains uncertain, with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders framing the issue as a matter of existential importance. As one Palestinian worshipper told detikNews outside the compound on April 27, “Al-Aqsa is not just a mosque. We see a symbol of our faith, our history, and our resistance. We will not allow anyone to take it from us.”