On August 21, 1969, Australian Jewish extremist Michael Dennis Rohan set fire to the mosque, causing extensive damage.

The fire, which severely damaged the mosque’s facades, ceilings, carpets, rare decorations, furniture, and copies of the Quran, destroyed more than a third of the mosque's 4,400 square meters. Key areas affected included the Omar Mosque, Zakaria’s Mihrab, the Mosque of the Forty Martyrs, and seventy-four wooden windows.

Despite the immediate damage, the real threat to Al-Aqsa continues today through ongoing Israeli occupation and settler violations. The Zionist forces cut the water supply to the mosque and barred firefighters from extinguishing the blaze, which contributed to the destruction of the 900-year-old pulpit gifted by Saladin.

The arson attack triggered widespread outrage and protests across the Muslim world, with thousands of Muslims performing Friday prayers in the mosque's courtyards the following day. However, the situation remains dire as Al-Aqsa continues to face systematic violations.

The Israeli authorities have been accused of perpetuating a series of violations against the mosque, including daily incursions by settlers, attempts to divide the mosque temporally and spatially, and deportation orders for Muslim worshippers. These actions are seen as part of a broader plan to tighten control over Al-Aqsa, change its Islamic character, and potentially replace it with a proposed "temple."

Fifty-three years after the attack, the mosque still faces significant threats. The ongoing Israeli policies and settlement expansion schemes continue to exacerbate tensions and are perceived as efforts to undermine the mosque’s historical and religious significance.

The 55^th anniversary of the arson serves as a reminder of the persistent and escalating challenges faced by Al-Aqsa Mosque, amidst a backdrop of continued Israeli occupation and settlement activities. (ILKHA)