Palestinian Activist: "Israel" Is Exploiting the World’s Preoccupation With Gaza To Impose Dangerous Realities in Jerusalem (Exclusive)

As the month of Ramadan approaches, the extremist Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has taken new measures aimed at increasing control over Al-Aqsa Mosque and provoking Muslims worldwide, especially during this holy month.

Among the most prominent measures taken by Ben-Gvir was the dismissal of the Jerusalem police chief, Amir Arzani, and the appointment, starting in the first week of January 2026, of a new chief, Avshalom Peled, in order to implement his plans.

Regarding the expectations and scenarios surrounding the plans of Ben-Gvir and the new police chief, Hassan Khater, head of the Jerusalem Committee for the Defense of Holy Sites and Director of the Jerusalem International Center, stated in an interview with Al-Estiklal that this appointment constitutes a dangerous development, especially as it comes just before Ramadan, a sensitive time when the Al-Aqsa courtyards witness a large influx of worshippers.

He noted that “the Israeli occupation authorities are exploiting the world's preoccupation with what is happening in the Gaza Strip, and the media and political attention focused on it, to implement their plans in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

He warned that Al-Aqsa Mosque has lost its prestige, its status, and its sanctity, and has become merely an arena where these extremists compete with whatever slogans, chants, and practices come to mind.

He emphasized that the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites and their presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first line of defense and will thwart the Israeli occupation’s attempts to impose a new reality within occupied Jerusalem.

Hassan Khater is one of the most prominent activists in occupied Jerusalem and one of the most vocal about Israeli violations there. He is also an Islamic preacher and expert on Jerusalem affairs.

Extremely Dangerous

What are the implications of appointing Avshalom Peled as the new police chief at this time, especially given the previous chief’s refusal to implement Ben-Gvir’s decisions regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque?

The previous Israeli police chief in occupied Jerusalem refused to implement the extremist Ben-Gvir’s directives concerning Al-Aqsa Mosque. 

He resisted Ben-Gvir’s demands, based on the understanding that Al-Aqsa Mosque is not Ben-Gvir’s house in Kiryat Arba, as the police chief once stated.

This approach displeased Ben-Gvir, who, in the interim, worked to replace it with a new, well-known figure, one fully prepared to implement his directives and orders concerning Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy City.

This is a dangerous development, as this new commander assumed his duties approximately a month before the start of the holy month of Ramadan—a critical and sensitive time, especially given that Al-Aqsa Mosque is typically filled with worshippers during Ramadan.

Large numbers of worshippers, with widespread participation from various Palestinian regions, attend the mosque. 

Therefore, having a police leadership willing to interfere with Al-Aqsa Mosque, restrict worshippers' access, confront them, and perhaps even clash with them directly, while simultaneously opening the gates wide to settlers during this period, is extremely dangerous.

Do you believe the new police chief will be even more committed to implementing Ben-Gvir's extremist agenda?

The new chief is known for his complete willingness to implement Ben-Gvir's orders and directives, especially regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy City. 

This appointment reflects a clear intention to entrench more extreme and dangerous policies against the Temple Mount and the city of Jerusalem.

The appointment of a new police chief in Jerusalem comes after the previous chief refused to implement Ben-Gvir's directives concerning Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly since the former chief refused to treat Al-Aqsa as a matter solely for Ben-Gvir or the settlers.

What impact will this appointment have on the security and human rights situation in Jerusalem?

This development is extremely dangerous because it opens the door to restricting the entry of worshippers, confronting them, and perhaps even clashing with them. 

It also opens Al-Aqsa Mosque wide to settlers, which will lead to further violations of religious and human rights in Jerusalem.

Major Explosion

How do you interpret the Israeli occupation's preparations for Ramadan in light of the escalating tensions?

The timing of this appointment, roughly a month before Ramadan, is not coincidental. 

The Israeli occupation authorities are preparing to impose strict measures on worshippers and residents of Jerusalem during the holy month, at a time when Al-Aqsa Mosque witnesses a peak in the number of worshippers from across the Palestinian territories.

Are there fears of a major Israeli escalation at Al-Aqsa during the holy month?

We warn of a widespread escalation resulting from the new measures against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. 

The presence of a police leadership prepared to protect settler incursions and turn a blind eye to their transgressions within Al-Aqsa could lead to a major explosion of the situation, especially given the accumulation of provocations by settlers and their continued incursions into the mosque.

Do you see this appointment as an indication of the Israeli occupation's intention to tighten restrictions on worshippers?

This appointment clearly indicates the Israeli authorities' intention to tighten restrictions on worshippers and prevent large numbers of them from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially during Ramadan. 

This is happening in parallel with providing full protection for settlers to perform their prayers, chant slogans, and slogans within the compound, and to provoke Muslims.

How is the Israeli occupation exploiting the situation in Gaza to escalate its actions in Jerusalem?

The Israeli occupation authorities are exploiting the world's preoccupation with the events in the Gaza Strip, and the media and political attention focused on them, to implement their plans in Jerusalem and at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

This exploitation is taking place amid unprecedented aggression by settlers and extremists, with increasing incursions.

Furthermore, there is complete disregard, even outright protection, for all the transgressions committed by settlers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, including prayers, chants, loud slogans, and Torah lessons.

All these manifestations, which are increasing day by day, are under the direct protection of the police, who are supposed to prevent these practices and maintain the status quo at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as previously agreed upon within the framework of what is known as the status quo. 

This is part of the Ottoman system that was in place in the Holy City, with the aim of protecting the holy sites and preserving them as they were.

Settlement Madness

Do you notice a lack of international attention to what is happening in Jerusalem due to the focus on Gaza?

There is a clear and regrettable international absence regarding what is happening in Jerusalem. 

This absence gives the Israeli occupation a green light to continue its Judaization efforts, violate the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and impose new realities on the ground without any deterrent.

What are the possible scenarios for the situation at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan?

The scenarios being discussed point to a dangerous escalation, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque could become a central arena for a future confrontation, as happened at previous historical junctures, from the Buraq Uprising in 1929 to the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

It seems the Israeli occupation has learned nothing from its past practices and has failed to grasp that all the revolutions and uprisings undertaken by the Palestinian people were sparked by the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its desecration.

Therefore, we see this scenario repeating itself today in a new and potentially more confrontational form, with a more intense response to these attacks. The month of Ramadan could become a new flashpoint.

The scenario during Ramadan may also witness a significant escalation due to Israeli occupation policies. It is expected that there will be more frequent and blatant restrictions on worshippers compared to previous years.

This is because the settlers harbor vengeful and clearly aggressive motives. They want to prove to themselves that they have triumphed, and that the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, indeed the mosque itself, are a stage in this alleged victory. They want to demonstrate this through their actions and stances.

I believe that the month of Ramadan is always a pivotal point in the relationship with the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as it reaffirms its undeniable Arab and Islamic identity, and the Israeli occupation constantly seeks to confront this pivotal point through its own methods and schemes.

Therefore, things are heading towards further escalation, and unfortunately, surprises are possible, and they may be bad or worse than we expect, given the Arab, Islamic, and international absence from what is happening in the Holy City, the unprecedented repression of the Palestinian people, the closures, and the curfews.

All these conditions and this atmosphere are ripe for any settlement frenzy that might target Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy City.

New Reality

How can Jerusalemites and the Palestinian community deal with this escalation?

The steadfastness of Jerusalemites and their presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque is the first line of defense, and the widespread popular presence during Ramadan reaffirms the Arab and Islamic identity of the mosque and thwarts the Israeli occupation's attempts to impose a new reality within occupied Jerusalem.

What is the role of international institutions in curbing Ben-Gvir's plans?

The role of international institutions is absent and weak, and this absence is unjustified and unacceptable. 

It includes the absence of the role of governments, Muslim scholars, Islamic institutions, and official Arab institutions represented by governments, ministers, and media figures.

This is a very serious matter, because it gives the Israeli occupation a green light to continue its actions.

This grants it complete freedom in its dealings with Al-Aqsa Mosque, its Judaization, its annexation, its violation of its sanctity and status, its prevention of worshippers from accessing it, and all these measures and policies that are increasing and escalating day by day.

There is an increase in Judaization and the takeover of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem by settlers. How do you interpret this settlement activity?

The escalation of Judaization and the takeover of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem by settlers and their Judaizing associations comes within the context of an internal political race among Israeli extremists, especially with the approach of new elections.

These practices could take on more dangerous and surprising forms, even reaching the point of a direct threat to holy sites, as reflected in the speeches and videos circulating among extremists.

New Israeli policies and the actions of the Israeli police have transformed Al-Aqsa Mosque into a place open to settlers, a playground where they can do as they please. 

What was impossible or unimaginable in previous years is now possible and practiced openly under the protection and sponsorship of the police.

This is a very serious matter. Al-Aqsa Mosque has lost its prestige, its status, and its sanctity. It has become merely an arena where these extremists compete with whatever slogans, chants, practices, insults, curses, and religious rituals come to mind.