Khaled Mashal, one of Hamas's most prominent leaders abroad, said on September 26, 2026 that Al-Aqsa was at a "crossroads" during an online meeting focused on the Jerusalem holy site.
A detailed Arabic account of his remarks says Mashal accused Israel of pursuing a gradual transformation of the compound through expanded Jewish religious activity, restrictions on the Islamic Waqf and greater Israeli control over day-to-day conditions. The report also attributed to him the allegation that the Waqf's role was being "systematically obstructed" so that effective administration would become Israeli rather than Islamic.
The event was held on Zoom under the title "Supporting Al-Aqsa in the Face of Aggression" and was organized by pro-Palestinian institutions focused on Jerusalem. No complete authenticated recording or official verbatim transcript of Mashal's intervention was located in the research reviewed for this article. Some formulations published in the media therefore need to be treated as translations or editorial summaries rather than confirmed word-for-word quotations.
An important correction: "spatial," not "security"
Ynet's Hebrew report said Mashal accused Israel of seeking to establish a "new religious, administrative and spatial reality" at Al-Aqsa.
That differs materially from versions that described "religious, administrative and security sovereignty." The Hebrew word used by Ynet means "reality," not "sovereignty," and "spatial," not "security."
The research also did not locate a full Arabic transcript containing the exact three-part formulation. It is safer to present it as Ynet's summary of Mashal's allegations, not as a verified direct quotation.
Has the status quo actually changed?
Israel's official government position remains that the status quo at the Temple Mount has not changed.
Under the arrangement that developed after 1967, the Islamic Waqf handles internal religious and civilian administration, while Israel Police control security, public order and practical access. Muslims pray at the compound, while non-Muslims may visit during designated hours. Under the traditional arrangement, non-Muslim prayer at the site was restricted.
Practice on the ground, however, has shifted gradually.
In January 2026, Israel Police confirmed that Jewish visitors were being allowed to bring approved prayer guidance sheets into police-designated areas. More visible prayer, prostration, singing and organized Jewish worship have also been documented in parts of the compound.
On July 23, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the site and praised the fact that Jews were praying there. Reuters described such prayer as contrary to the traditional arrangement under which prayer at the compound is reserved for Muslims.
These developments are not the same as a formal government decision to abolish the status quo, but they do show a meaningful change in how the rules are enforced in practice.
Government policy and practice are not the same thing
The Prime Minister's Office continues to say that Israel's policy at the Temple Mount has not changed. Ben-Gvir, by contrast, openly supports expanded Jewish prayer at the site, while police now allow some conduct that was previously prohibited or more tightly restricted.
No new cabinet decision was found authorizing general Jewish prayer or transferring administration of the compound from the Waqf to an Israeli authority.
That leaves two distinct layers. Formally, Israel says the status quo remains in place. Operationally, the boundaries of what Jewish visitors are allowed to do have widened.
What about the Waqf?
Mashal's claim that the Waqf is being weakened is partly grounded in reported developments, but it goes further than the available evidence can establish.
During 2026, reports described arrests or exclusions of Waqf personnel, restrictions on employee access, difficulties carrying out repairs and limits on supplies entering the compound. The number of affected staff differs between sources, and no Israeli document was found formally revoking the Waqf's administrative role.
The Waqf remains the recognized Muslim religious administrator of the compound, while Israel Police retain practical control over security, access, exclusions and public order.
Jordan says the status quo is being eroded
The 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty recognizes Jordan's "special role" in Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. Jordan maintains that the full Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a Muslim place of worship and that the Jordanian-linked Waqf is the body responsible for its administration.
In August 2026, Jordan convened an emergency meeting of Arab and Muslim states that condemned Jewish prayer and activity at the site, restrictions on Muslim access and alleged obstruction of the Waqf. That is an official diplomatic position, but it is not by itself proof that Israel has formally transferred religious or administrative control.
Mashal was also trying to mobilize supporters
Mashal's remarks were not simply a factual description of administrative arrangements. According to the Arabic report, he called for "resistance and jihad," Palestinian popular mobilization, mass action across the Arab and Muslim worlds and action by regional governments.
That context matters. Mashal placed his claims within Hamas's broader political and mobilizational messaging around Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.
Hamas named its October 7, 2023 attack "Al-Aqsa Flood." Days after that attack, Mashal himself called for demonstrations and mobilization across the Muslim world.
What can be established?
There is no public evidence that the Israeli government has formally decided to abolish the status quo, remove the Waqf from administration or geographically divide the compound.
At the same time, it would be inaccurate to say that nothing has changed. More visible Jewish prayer, the admission of prayer materials and reported restrictions affecting Waqf operations point to real changes on the ground.
Mashal's broader allegation of a coordinated Israeli takeover therefore contains a political interpretation that has not been fully established, but it also draws on documented changes in practice. Keeping those two points separate is essential to understanding the story.
