Israel destroying Islamic artifacts in 'illegal excavation' under Al-Aqsa Mosque: Palestine

The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate has said that Israel is carrying out excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and destroying Islamic artifacts.

In a statement, the governorate said that leaked video showed Israeli forces carrying out “illegal excavations” under the mosque. It claimed that digging had already resulted in the destruction of Islamic artifacts dating back to the Umayyad era.

“These archaeological pieces are undeniable proof of Muslims’ historical ownership of Al-Aqsa,” the statement said, adding that Israel is trying to erase the site’s Islamic identity and promote the narrative of the so-called ‘Temple Mount.’

The governorate warned that the excavations were being conducted secretly and without international monitoring, posing “grave risks” to the mosque’s structural integrity and surrounding historical landmarks.

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It said the works were part of wider Israeli efforts to alter the city’s identity and “impose new facts on the ground” to advance plans to Judaize East Jerusalem.

Calling the activities a violation of international law, the governorate urged the United Nations and UNESCO to step in immediately to halt the excavations and hold Israel accountable.

Although the statement did not identify the precise locations of the digging, Palestinian officials said that Israel was digging tunnels beneath the mosque as part of its expansionist policies in Jerusalem.

Under existing agreements, the Jordan-run Jerusalem Islamic Waqf is the sole authority responsible for managing the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque. A 2013 accord signed between Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed Jordan’s custodianship over Jerusalem’s holy sites, including Al-Aqsa.