Aminat Al-Aqsa warns of Israeli occupation escalation in Jerusalem excavations to erase its identity

The Jerusalem Endowment Committee warned of the escalating excavations carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities around the Al-Aqsa Mosque. These excavations aim to erase the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem and to increase Israeli control over the area. They confirmed that these actions are part of a deliberate scheme seeking to isolate the mosque and diminish the powers of the Islamic Waqf, with excavation activities expanding in the Umayyad Palaces area and directly surrounding the mosque. The purpose is to create tunnels and underground facilities that promote fabricated narratives and strengthen claims of a Jewish civilization in the area. These excavations coincide with efforts to replace the Islamic Waqf with Israeli forces and extremist groups, along with the installation of surveillance systems and smart cameras to control worshippers' access. Researcher Fakhri Abu Diab considered that the plans also include demolishing homes and displacing residents in Jerusalem neighborhoods, accelerating settlement projects in the region, all aimed at altering the demographic and cultural fabric in favor of settlers. He emphasized that the occupation is exploiting the lack of international deterrence amidst Israeli elections to strengthen its control over the city and its holy sites.