Amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one focal point remains Israel's pursuit of control over the historic Al-Aqsa Mosque situated in Jerusalem's West Bank and the Muslim community's desire to preserve it. It is against this backdrop that Hamas' recent military operation was named 'Al Aqsa Flood'.

Jerusalem holds deep significance for Christianity, Islam and Judaism with the Temple Mount serving as a sacred site for Jews. Nestled within the Temple Mount is the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest mosque in Islam after the mosques in Mecca and Medina. These two holy sites are mentioned in the Holy Quran and hold significant historical and spiritual importance as they are closely associated with the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

While Muslims now pray facing the Mecca Mosque (Qiblah), Al-Aqsa Mosque initially served as the first Qibla Mosque. Its importance in Islamic prayer remains second only to Mecca and Medina.

However, tensions have escalated due to visits by Jewish believers including Israeli political leaders to Al-Aqsa Mosque over the past two decades. In 2000, Ariel Sharon, the Israeli opposition leader and Likud party leader led a high-profile visit to the mosque asserting Jewish claims to the Temple Mount. This event sparked the violent Second Arab Revolution also known as the Second Intifada resulting in significant casualties and imprisonments.

Recent incidents have further inflamed tensions with Israeli Security Minister Ben Geer making multiple visits to the Temple Mount in a year and Israeli settlers entering the mosque under police protection. During the last Ramadan, Israeli police forcibly entered the mosque exacerbating hostilities.

It's worth noting that Israel gained control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the 1967 war with the administration left in the hands of the Islamic Wakf by then-Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Dayan while Israel took charge of security. Initially, non-Muslims were only allowed to enter on special occasions without worship privileges. Eventually, Muslims were banned leading to further unrest and conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.