Egypt's presidential religious advisor calls on Muslim to visit Jerusalem to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque

CAIRO – 11 May 2021: The only way to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is to be frequented by Muslims worldwide, religious advisor to the president has said.

“There is no way to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque except to put it under the popular protection of all Muslims by continuous influx of Muslims from all over the world to Al-Aqsa Mosque to visit and protect,” Sheikh Osama al-Azhary said Monday on Instagram.

Israeli police have clashed with Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah district in Jerusalem, causing over 300 injuries among Palestinian people so far. Israel wants to evict Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and give their properties to settlers.

For decades, the mainstream idea in Egypt has been to boycott Israel and never visit as long as it illegally occupies Palestinian land.

However, in 2021, Egypt’s Grand Mufti at the time, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, made an unofficial visit to Al-Aqsa. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and in Gaza condemned the visit because it “recognized Israel,” but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Jerusalem needs Muslims to visit and stop the alteration of its character.