By Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam
Secretary-General, Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center), On August 21, 1969, the usurping Zionist regime set fire to Al-Aqsa Mosque in a targeted terror attack. As we look back from 2026, it remains crucial to educate our younger generations and the broader public that Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Quds continue to face severe threats, and we must clearly understand our duties in these circumstances.
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds a sacred place in the hearts of Muslims worldwide as the First Qibla and one of the holiest sanctuaries in Islam. According to the Quranic text, it is the blessed site from where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to the heavens during the Night Journey (Isra and Mi’raj). However, since the illegal Zionist occupation of Palestine in 1948, this holy site, along with the Muslim and Christian communities of Al-Quds, has been the target of continuous conspiracies, atrocities, and acts of destruction.
On August 21, 1969, Denis Michael Rohan, an Australian Zionist extremist, set fire to the Al-Qibli Chapel inside the Al-Aqsa compound, causing extensive damage. To evade responsibility, the Zionist occupation authorities claimed that Rohan was mentally unstable. It raises a glaring question: how could a supposedly “insane” individual carry out such a calculated attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque? It was undeniably part of a larger, well-planned Zionist conspiracy.
The arson attack inflicted severe damage on the mosque’s historic structures. Most notably, the 800-year-old wooden pulpit of Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was reduced to ashes. The eastern section of the mosque, its roof, and its historic mihrab suffered critical damage. When local Palestinians rushed to extinguish the flames, Israeli authorities deliberately shut off the water supply and hindered firefighting efforts, proving that the burning of Al-Quds was carried out under a premeditated, sinister plan.
This terror attack sparked outrage across the Muslim world, creating an overwhelming sense that protecting the First Qibla was an obligatory duty for all Islamic governments. The intense global reaction directly led to the establishment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in September 1969. While the OIC was founded on a single-point agenda to defend and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque, it is deeply unfortunate that today it often appears subservient to Western imperialist powers, particularly the United States.
Since the occupation of Palestine, Al-Aqsa Mosque has constantly remained under threat. The ultimate objective of the Zionist regime has always been to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and construct the Third Temple in its place. Under the guise of archaeological excavations, the Israeli regime continues to dig extensive tunnels beneath the foundations of Al-Aqsa and the Al-Qibli Mosque, dangerously weakening the structure.
Today, Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa face existential danger. Attempts are underway to divide Al-Aqsa spatially and temporally, mirroring the division of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, to allocate specific times and areas for Zionist extremists. Furthermore, backed by occupation forces, radical Jewish Zionist settlers routinely storm the courtyard to perform provocative religious rituals. Right-wing figures, including Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have repeatedly desecrated the holy compound.
Zionist aggression in occupied Palestine is not confined to Muslims; Christian holy sites and communities have also been systematically targeted. Beyond the ongoing attacks on mosques, Christian places of worship face deliberate vandalism. Viral videos on social media have shown Zionist settlers spitting on the doors of a Christian church in the Bethlehem region of the West Bank, proudly filming their acts of desecration as if it were a religious duty.
Desecration of Christian sanctuaries across occupied Palestine remains widespread. Major sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem face regular attacks, financial restrictions, and harassment of Christian pilgrims. Attacks and spitting incidents by Zionist extremists targeting Christian clergy and pilgrims have risen sharply, while systematic land grabs in Al-Quds aim to alter the demographic majority of both Muslims and Christians into a minority.
Occupied Palestine is burning. Gaza has been devastated, and Palestinians in the West Bank live under constant threat from Zionist violence. In these perilous times, protecting Palestine and its sacred Islamic and Christian heritage is imperative.
Why is defending Al-Aqsa Mosque essential? We must remind ourselves and teach future generations that Al-Aqsa is not merely a geographical location or a structure of stone, it represents the sacred symbols of Allah (Sha’a’ir Allah). It is the First Qibla of Muslims and the third holiest site in Islam. Protecting it is inextricably linked to the collective honor and existence of the Muslim Ummah. Moreover, it serves as the ultimate test of international law and human decency. This is why the issue of Palestine is not just an Islamic issue, but a critical matter for all humanity.
Immediate, tangible action is required to liberate Palestinians from Zionist subjugation and defend the First Qibla. Tragically, the concept of a unified Muslim Ummah seems to be fading. Observing regional developments, especially the global indifference and silence of Muslim governments regarding the atrocities in Gaza over recent years, gives the impression that collective Muslim resolve has eroded.
To counter this, Muslim nations, particularly Arab states that normalized relations with the Israeli regime under the Abraham Accords, must immediately sever all diplomatic ties (Normalization/Tatteeb) with the Zionist state and raise a unified voice on international platforms.
Enforce a total economic boycott against the Israeli regime and companies that support its occupation. Pursue aggressive legal action against Zionist war crimes at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Utilize social media and educational institutions to keep the historical realities of Zionist crimes and the 1969 attack alive in public consciousness. Provide direct financial, medical, and relief assistance to the besieged people of Gaza and the guardians (Murabiteen) of Al-Quds. Maintain a sustained, long-term boycott of global brands that sustain the Zionist economy.
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