Israeli Extremist Officials and Settlers Continue Provocations Against Al-Aqsa

Overnight, over 4,000 illegal Israeli settlers accompanied convicted terrorist and Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and desecrated the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av. Palestinian worshipers reported being beaten by Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) mid-prayer. As settlers desecrated Al-Aqsa grounds and prayed, Ben Gvir told the press: “We are seeing tremendous progress on the Temple Mount. Look at what’s happening here. Jews are praying and feel they are owners of this place. This has never happened before.”

Ben Gvir’s actions mark a series of state-backed provocations to weaken the Islamic identity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, remove Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem, and take over Al-Aqsa Mosque completely. This past Ramadan, IOF shuttered Al-Aqsa and banned Palestinian worshippers from entering the compound grounds. A similar tactic was deployed on Eid al-Fitr as well. 

The abuses do not stop there. In March 2026, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate warned of organized settler efforts to carry out animal sacrifices inside or around the Al-Aqsa compound. Such actions are not only aimed at entrenching Israel’s presence at Al-Aqsa, but designed to provoke Palestinians and ignite widespread violence at Islam’s third holiest religious site.

International law makes clear that as an occupying power, Israel has no sovereign authority to make permanent changes to religious or cultural sites. Donald Trump, Mike Huckabee, and Jared Kushner are to blame for recent Israeli aggression toward Al-Aqsa. In 2017, the Trump administration recognized Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and its holy sites, contravening historical realities and international law. In May 2026, the U.S. announced it was coordinating with Israel to strip the Waqf of its custodianship to make way for what Israel calls “a multi-faith center.” If implemented, Israel would have significant influence in the appointment of imams, preachers, and mosque officials. Make no mistake, this is an attempt to alter the Islamic character and historical status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Escalatory measures to defile Al-Aqsa coincide with Israel’s widespread brutality against the Palestinian people. In addition to its genocide in Gaza, Ben Gvir’s settler militias routinely attack and displace Palestinian families from their homes across the occupied West Bank.

As Israeli aggression intensifies against Palestinians, the U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday to integrate Israel into its military, defense, and technological systems, allowing the occupation to exert significant influence in American affairs.

AMP condemns the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and calls on the U.S. to take a clear and unequivocal stand against Israel's ongoing violations targeting Muslim and Christian holy places across occupied Palestinian territories. We further demand an immediate end to all U.S. political, military, and diplomatic support that enables Israel to continue these violations and abuses.