Officials in the East Jerusalem Governorate are warning that Israeli "Temple groups" are attempting to reshape the religious narrative of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. These efforts reportedly focus on the Bab al-Rahma gate to establish a permanent Jewish presence at the site .
The "Gates of Mercy" WhatsApp Campaign and Digital Rebranding
Israeli religious groups are reportedly using digital platforms to promote a new narrative regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. Specifically, the East Jerusalem Governorate points to a WhatsApp group named "Gates of Mercy, open for us" as a primary tool for this campaign. According to the report, these digital messages aim to elevate the mosque's eastern wall as a special Jewish religious sanctuary.
The religious campaign appears designed to move beyond the seasonal observances traditionally tied to Jewish holidays. By framing the Bab al-Rahma gate as a permissible site for Jewish prayer, these groups are attempting to challenge the established status of the 35.6-acre complex, which remains an excluisvely Islamic place of worship.
593 Settlers and the Jewish New Year Incursions
Physical escalations have accompanied these digital efforts, as evidenced by a significant incident involving 593 Israeli settlers. As reported by the governorate, these individuals stormed the Al-Aqsa mosque this past Sunday. This event occurred during a period of heightened tension surrounding the Jewish New Year , which lasted from September 11 to September 13 .
Israeli authorities reportedly placed restrictions on Palestinian worshippers attempting to access the mosque during this same timeframe.. The governorate notes that these access restrictions coincided with calls from Temple groups for intensified incursions during the holiday period.
Uri Ohayon and the Political Roots of the Prayer Movement
The push for weekly prayers at the Bab al-Rahma site is reportedly linked to former Israeli army officer Uri Ohayon. This conneection, according to the governorate's statement, highlights the political motivations driving what is being presented as a religious agenda.
The East Jerusalem Governorate warns that normalizing these rituals could provide a "road map" for further expansion. Officials fear that if these specific rituals at the cemetery and gate are accepted, it will pave the way for Temple groups to convert other holy spots within the mosque complex into Jewish prayer sites.
The Legal Status of the 35.6-Acre Islamic Endowment
The mosque's existing endowment status provides legal protection for all its courtyards, gates, and landmarks. The East Jerusalem Governorate maintains that Israeli officials in occupied East Jerusalem lack any legal authority to alter the identity, use, or nature of the mosque.
The governorate is calling for urgent international attention to these developments to protect inter-religious harmony. They argue that the current trajectory of religious rebranding poses a direct threat to the established peace process in the region.
The Lack of Official Israeli Response to the Bab al-Rahma Allegations
The specific level of coordination between "Temple groups" and the Israeli government remains unverified. Furthermore, the report does not include a formal response from the Israeli authorities or from Uri Ohayon regarding the specific claims made by the governorate.
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