Arab League warns of global conflict if Israel alters Al-Aqsa status quo

Ten Arab League foreign ministers, joined by counterparts from Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Malaysia, issued a joint statement warning that Israeli infringements on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem could trigger a religious conflict with repercussions for regional and international peace and security. The warning follows reports of changes to the decades-old status quo, including restrictions on Jordanian-employed mosque officials, a halving of Muslim worshippers in 2025, and increased Jewish ritual activity at the site. While Israel’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegations, experts warn that further breaches could lead to widespread protests in Muslim-majority nations, diplomatic fallout, and potentially the reversal of normalisation agreements by countries such as Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

The statement was issued following an emergency meeting in Amman, Jordan, convened by Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi due to mounting evidence of changes to the decades-old "status quo" governing the site. Safadi told the UK newspaper the Guardian that tampering with the arrangement could trigger a religious conflict that would reverberate beyond Palestine and Jordan into the whole Muslim world. Israel’s Foreign Ministry rejected the statement as inaccurate, asserting that Jerusalem remains open and accessible to worshippers of all faiths.

Reports indicate that dozens of mosque officials employed by Jordan have been prevented from entering Al-Aqsa this year. Jerusalem-based monitors report that the number of Muslim worshippers at the site halved during 2025. There are increased reports of Jewish worshippers being allowed into the compound and performing rituals that have been forbidden for decades, including by Jewish religious authorities. The Times of Israel reported in January that police allowed Jewish visitors to take printed prayer sheets onto the site for the first time.

An October 2025 report by the Ir Amim Association found that politicians, including those from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, frequently breach status quo rules without facing consequences, despite Netanyahu’s public declarations of commitment to the status quo. Experts note that the "Temple Mount movement," previously considered a fringe group, has become more mainstream and vocal, with backing from over 100 rabbis associated with the settler movement in the West Bank. In June, there were reports of an Israeli-US plan to turn the mosque area into a "multifaith centre," although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied knowledge of such a plan.

Experts caution that any attempt to change the status quo would face a global backlash, particularly from the largest Muslim countries. In the past, changes have led to violence, including the Second Intifada in 2000 and deadly protests in 2017. While Arab regimes may launch vigorous criticism, domestic fury could force countries like Morocco and the United Arab Emirates to reverse normalisation agreements. Hamas and other extremist groups have historically used the defence of Al-Aqsa to recruit members and justify actions against Israel.