September 1, 2025 | 05:37 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Palestinian government in Jerusalem has accused Israel of conducting excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, alleging that these activities are damaging historical Islamic artifacts.
In a statement released on Sunday and reported by Anadolu, the local government cited leaked video footage that reportedly shows Israeli forces engaged in unauthorized excavations beneath the sensitive holy site.
The Israeli authorities have been accused of intentionally destroying Islamic artifacts from the Umayyad period, which are considered tangible evidence of Muslim ownership of the site.
"Israel is working to destroy these Islamic archaeological landmarks with the aim of erasing the historical identity of Al-Aqsa and falsifying the facts in favor of the alleged ‘Temple Mount’ narrative," the statement asserted.
The Palestinian side claims these excavations were performed covertly, without international oversight, and pose serious risks to the structural integrity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and nearby historical sites. The Palestinian government in Jerusalem further contends that Israel is attempting to "impose new facts on the ground to serve its plans to Judaize the city."
The Palestinian government in Jerusalem has urged the international community, the United Nations, and UNESCO to intervene, halt these violations, and hold Israel accountable.
Although the specific location of the excavations was not detailed, Israel has been constructing tunnels beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque for years. Palestinian residents view this as part of a broader effort to transform East Jerusalem into an area that will be incorporated into Israeli territory.
According to international law, the Jerusalem Awqaf Council, which is managed by Jordan, is the sole authority with jurisdiction over the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In March 2013, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed an agreement granting Jordan custodianship and protective rights over Jerusalem and its holy sites in Palestine, including those in Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is recognized as the third-holiest site in Islam. The same area is referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount, believed to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel has occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, Israel formally annexed the entire city, a move that has not been recognized by the international community.
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