Defend the Sacred: Hamas Calls for Mass Mobilization at Al-Aqsa Amid Israeli Control Fears

In a direct and impassioned plea, the Palestinian militant group Hamas has issued an urgent call to Muslims around the world, imploring them to "flood" the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surrounding compounds in Jerusalem. The dramatic appeal, disseminated through Hamas's media office on Saturday, comes with a stark warning that Israel is allegedly orchestrating insidious "plots" aimed at further dividing and ultimately seizing full control over one of Islam's holiest sites.

The core of Hamas's message is a fervent exhortation for an overwhelming Muslim presence at the sacred Haram al-Sharif, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

The group asserts that such a mass mobilization is critical to thwart what it describes as continuous Israeli efforts to impose its sovereignty over Al-Aqsa, eroding its historical and religious Islamic identity. This call resonates deeply within a region perpetually fraught with religious and political tensions, where the status of Jerusalem's holy sites remains a flashpoint.

Hamas specifically referenced a history of alleged "plots" by the Israeli occupation aimed at the "spatial and temporal division" of the mosque.

These claims refer to concerns among Palestinians and many Muslims that Israel seeks to alter the long-standing status quo, which grants Muslims exclusive prayer rights within the mosque while allowing non-Muslims to visit the wider compound during specified hours. Any perceived deviation from this arrangement is often met with fierce resistance and condemnation.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque, an ancient and revered structure, is Islam's third-holiest site, a place of profound spiritual significance for Muslims globally.

Its sanctity stems from its association with the Prophet Muhammad's night journey to heaven. For Palestinians, in particular, the mosque is also a powerful symbol of their national and religious identity, intricately linked to their struggle for self-determination.

Hamas's statement underscored the grave concern that the "occupation's continuous plotting to impose its full control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque" represents a grave threat not just to Palestinian rights, but to the entire Muslim world.

It calls for "steadfastness" and "vigilance" from all Muslims, urging them to make their physical presence a bulwark against perceived Israeli encroachments.

This urgent appeal by Hamas is set against a backdrop of intensified Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly following the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Tensions around Al-Aqsa frequently escalate during religious holidays and periods of heightened political friction, often leading to clashes between worshippers and Israeli security forces. Hamas's current call seeks to leverage this spiritual connection and political fervor to galvanize a widespread response, aiming to send a clear message regarding the inviolability of Al-Aqsa in the eyes of millions.