Meshaal: Israel paving way for total control and domination over Al-Aqsa

What Happened

Khaled Meshaal, a member of Hamas's political bureau, warned on September 21, 2026 that Israeli actions around Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound are "paving the way for total control and domination over the site." In a statement, Meshaal cited a 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. He called for a "strategy of resistance and jihad" and urged Arab and Muslim-majority countries to back Palestine. A Middle East Eye post stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured tunnels beneath the Al-Aqsa compound over the weekend while hundreds of Israeli settlers entered the holy site under heavy police protection. The article did not include an Israeli government response.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Al-Aqsa is one of the most volatile flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas framing of Israeli actions as paving the way for total control of the site, combined with reported settler entries and Netanyahu's visit, can escalate Jerusalem tensions and mobilize Palestinian factions. Such rhetoric and incidents have historically triggered broader confrontations, including armed conflict.

Watch For

Monitor whether the reported 40-day closure of Al-Aqsa is confirmed, extended, or challenged; any further Israeli government statements on access to the compound; and whether Hamas's call for resistance and jihad translates into protests or attacks in Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Gaza. Also watch for responses from Arab and Muslim-majority governments and any diplomatic or UN action regarding the holy site.