Israeli actions 'paving way for total control' over Al-Aqsa, says Hamas

Hamas political bureau member Khaled Meshaal has warned that Israeli actions and measures around Al-Aqsa Mosque are “paving the way for total control and domination over the site”.

Meshaal said the measures included the reported 40-day closure of the mosque, what he described as the “imposition of temporal division” to facilitate incursions by “extremist Jewish groups” and efforts to create “spatial division” by emptying key facilities within the courtyard, according to a statement.

Al-Aqsa “stands at a crossroads”, Meshaal said, and called for steps to protect the site, including what he called a “strategy of resistance and jihad”.

He also urged Arab and Muslim-majority countries to back Palestine and called on Palestinians to keep a “steadfast presence” at the mosque.

The comments come a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured tunnels beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque as hundreds of Israeli settlers raided the Jerusalem holy site.