Al-Aqsa: A House Divided Against Itself
By Sabahat Mazhar
On April 6, 2026, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa compound under heavy guard from Israeli security forces. This was not a unique incident, but part of a series of raids into this site that holds profound significance for all three Abrahamic faiths. Muslims honour Al-Aqsa as the third holiest site in Islam, the original direction of prayer, and the site where the Prophet Muhammad was transported during the miraculous Night Journey (Al-Isra). Jews refer to the compound as the Temple Mount and regard it as the holiest site in Judaism. For Christians, it is where Jesus walked and taught. Historically, the three faiths coexisted relatively peacefully around the compound during the era of Caliph Umar, the Ayyubids, and the Ottoman Millet system. The administrative framework that exists today at Al-Aqsa, managed by the Jordanian Waqf, is not conducive to coexistence. It is a framework designed to manage conflict, and even that is now under threat.
Looking back on the past, there were several critical eras in history where co-existence between Abrahamic faiths around Al-Aqsa was close to reality. Interestingly, most periods of co-existence around the compound are found under Muslim rulers. After conquering Jerusalem in 638 CE, Caliph Umar allowed Jews to return to the city and offer prayers on the Temple Mount. Upon his invitation, 70 Jewish families returned to the city. Later, during the Ayyubid dynasty (1187–1229 CE), Sultan Salahuddin abolished the Crusader-imposed policies that had barred non-converting Muslims and Jews from entering Jerusalem. Additionally, during the Ottoman era, Christians, Muslims, and Jews lived as neighbours and shared economic life in Jerusalem. These societies were not utopias of interfaith harmony but were marked by periodic episodes of coexistence rather than long-standing interfaith accord.
The events of the 20th century marked a turning point that shattered the fragile dynamics of periodic co-existence around Al-Aqsa. From 1897 onwards, the dynamics in Jerusalem had already begun to shift as Theodor Herzl formalised the ideology of Zionism—a movement seeking to establish a Jewish home in Palestine. In 1922, the British Mandate was established in Palestine—embedding the 1917 Balfour Declaration and giving Zionism the backing of British imperial power. Simultaneously, the existing Status Quo arrangement continued to govern Al-Aqsa under Muslim administration. These contradictory arrangements turned Al-Aqsa into a disputed battleground, leading to the 1929 Western Wall riots—the first major clash over prayer rights between Muslims and Jews at the holy site. Later, in 1948, after the first Arab-Israeli War, Jordan captured East Jerusalem, preventing the access of Jews to Al-Aqsa. Additionally, after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel captured East Jerusalem and established military control over the Al-Aqsa compound, a fundamental change in the dynamics. This change established the fertile ground for future raids and clashes in the compound between Muslims and Jews.
Currently, the Jordanian Waqf administers Al-Aqsa, an arrangement formally recognised by Israel as well. Under this arrangement, Al-Aqsa falls under the custodianship of the King of Jordan and operates under the Ministry of Awqaf. The ministry employs approximately 1,000 staff members who manage daily access and operations inside the compound. Through this arrangement, Jews can enter the compound but cannot pray inside it. On paper, the arrangement appears to be a coexistence framework, but in essence, it has been designed for preventing clashes at the compound. However, on the ground, the arrangement is also not fully operational as Israeli ministers and settlers enter the compound from time to time, occasionally engaging in clashes and offering prayers as well.
Today, the Al-Aqsa compound has become a symbol of the Israel-Palestine conflict, leading to the perception of the war as a religious war rather than a political one. The site remains highly disputed as both Jews and Muslims claim ownership, with raids increasing particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The site witnessed incursions by 48,000 Israeli settlers in 2023 alone and by 65,000 Israeli settlers in 2025. From February 28, 2026, to April 9, 2026, the compound was closed for 40 days by Israeli forces, citing security concerns related to the US-Iran war. The compound has never witnessed such a frequency of incursions in its recorded history, signalling a complete breakdown of coexistence.
These facts paint a concerning picture. Despite the followers of the Abrahamic faiths referring to this site as sacred, they have persistently engaged in physical clashes at the site. Current debates surrounding Al-Aqsa heavily focus on who the compound belongs to, an approach which will only intensify the conflict. Genuine coexistence can only be achieved through equal worship rights for all, an end to political raids, and oversight by a credible neutral body.