JERUSALEM — Al-Aqsa has become the focus of a renewed international appeal after 14 Arab and Palestinian institutions called for urgent collective action to protect occupied Jerusalem. The organizations warned that recent Israeli measures threaten the historic, religious and cultural identity of the city while increasing pressure on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the groups said Jerusalem is experiencing one of the most critical periods in its modern history. They claimed Israeli authorities have intensified actions around Al-Aqsa Mosque, including increased visits by Israeli groups under police protection, restrictions on worshippers and measures that they argue seek to alter the site’s longstanding status quo.

Appeal Warns of Growing Pressure

More than 100 words into the appeal, Al-Aqsa remained at the center of the organizations’ concerns. The signatories alleged that Israeli policies include home demolitions, forced displacement, settlement expansion, residency revocations and excavation work around the Old City. They also expressed concern about restrictions affecting Islamic and Christian holy sites and institutions.

The statement said these measures risk changing Jerusalem’s historic and multicultural character. It argued that statements of concern alone are no longer sufficient and called for coordinated political, legal and human rights initiatives to prevent further escalation.

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Call for International Response

The organizations urged the international community to take concrete steps to protect Jerusalem, its residents and its religious sites. They also called for accountability regarding alleged violations and warned against allowing actions on the ground to become normalized.

The appeal asked Jordan, which serves as the custodian of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites, to intensify diplomatic efforts aimed at mobilizing broader international support for preserving the city’s historic status and protecting its holy places.

Background to the Dispute

Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam’s third-holiest site. Jews refer to the same area as the Temple Mount, which they regard as the location of two ancient Jewish temples. Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and later annexed the city in 1980, a move that is not recognized by most of the international community.

The latest appeal comes amid continued violence in the occupied West Bank and heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. Palestinian officials report rising casualties, arrests and military operations across the territory since October 2023, while Israeli authorities say their operations target security threats.