Hamas declared that “Israel” holds no legitimacy over the holy site and warned that all efforts to erase its Islamic identity are doomed to fail, in a statement marking the 556th anniversary of the incident of burning the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque fire, which occurred on August 21, 1969, was carried out by an extremist Australian national named Michael Dennis Rohan. The flames consumed the entire contents of the eastern wing of the Qibli Mosque, located on the southern side of the Al-Aqsa compound, including its historic pulpit known as the Salah al-Din pulpit.

On August 21, 1969, a Zionist Australian extremist named Michael Dennis stormed #AlAqsa Mosque and deliberately set fire to its eastern side, which led to the destruction of its facades, ceiling, carpets, and furniture.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/Cq54DpnooY

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 22, 2022

The movement condemned “Israel’s” ongoing crimes in Gaza over the past 22 months, including blockades, massacres, and mass killings, as well as its settlement expansion and Judaization policies in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds. Hamas also denounced all attempts by the Israeli occupation to Judaize al-Aqsa, alter its features, erase its identity, or divide it temporally and spatially, in addition to pushing forward the so-called plan to construct a ‘Third Temple’ atop its ruins.

“Al-Quds and al-Aqsa will remain the enduring symbol of the Palestinian struggle and the compass of unity for the Palestinian people and the Islamic Ummah,” the statement affirmed, stressing that "Israel" will never hold sovereignty or authority over even a single inch of Al-Aqsa Mosque, no matter how long the struggle endures or how great the sacrifices may be.

Hamas urges Arab, Islamic unity to confront Israeli expansion plans

Hamas further cautioned that Israeli ambitions extend well beyond historic Palestine, pointing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s calls for a so-called “Greater Israel". The movement urged Arab and Islamic nations to take firm and united action to confront Israeli aggression, isolate “Israel” on the international stage, and pursue its leaders as war criminals.

The Palestinian movement reiterated the necessity of supporting and protecting al-Aqsa, calling on Palestinians in al-Quds and the occupied West Bank to maintain their presence at al-Aqsa, participate in spiritual retreats (I`tikaf), and urged global supporters to escalate solidarity activities, particularly on Friday, August 22. 

Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to backing Gaza against the blockade and aggression, commemorated martyrs, and vowed to continue comprehensive resistance until liberation and return.

Israeli settlers storm cemetery near al-Aqsa amid Judaization push

Earlier this month,  dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the Bab al-Rahma Islamic cemetery, adjacent to the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds, on Saturday morning. The settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the middle of the cemetery and carried out provocative dances atop graves.

The cemetery is currently facing ongoing Israeli excavation works aimed at establishing a base for a settlement-linked cable car project surrounding the Old City. 

Israeli occupation authorities plan to seize parts of the 23-dunum cemetery and convert sections into a "Torah garden" as part of their broader Judaization scheme for the city.  

It is worth noting that over 2,000 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed Talmudic rituals inside the sacred Islamic site, in a provocative move led by far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on August 9.

Wider context

The West Bank continues to witness a surge in settler violence and Israeli occupation aggression, which have left numerous Palestinians injured or killed in recent months. Armed settlers, often acting with impunity, have carried out attacks on Palestinian villages, homes, and farmland, while occupation forces provide direct support, including military escorts for settlement expansion projects.

This systematic violence is compounded by the ongoing construction and usurping of more Palestinian land for settlements, driving a policy of territorial encroachment and demographic manipulation.

The combined impact of settler aggression and military repression has intensified fear, displacement, and economic hardship for Palestinians, further entrenching the Israeli occupation and undermining prospects for peace.