The introduction of CCTV cameras over the holy site was agreed upon this past weekend between the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian sides, in order to reduce tensions that have been on the rise over the last weeks.
However on Monday, Waqf, the Muslim authority which administers the Al-Aqsa Compound under an agreement dating back to the end of the Six-Day War of 1967, said that Israeli police interfered with the surveillance cameras’ installation process.
“They told our crews to stop the installation work and ordered us to remove everything we already had installed,” Azzam Khatib, director of Waq said.
"“We severely condemn the Israeli interference into the working affairs of the Waqf, and we consider the matter evidence that Israel wants to install cameras that only serve its own interests, not cameras that show truth and justice,” Waqf said in a statement."
According to the established status quo, Muslims can pray at the holy site, but Jews are only allowed in as visitors. According to local Israeli media outlets, Israeli officials have continued to insist that there will be no change to the status quo at the site, including installation of CCTV.
In a separate twist in the ongoing fluctuations in Israeli-Palestinian tensions, an Israeli government official told Reuters that Netanyahu’s team is contemplating the revocation of some East Al-Quds based Palestinians’ benefits and travel rights.
The possible move, which has been criticized by observers, comes as protests against Israel’s ongoing occupation of the West Bank, including East Al-Quds (East Jerusalem), and the Gaza Strip have increased in frequency.
Israel continues to use lethal force against Palestinian protesters who are calling for unrestricted access to worship at Al-Aqsa and demand an end to Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Rumors of the potential revocation of rights sparked new unrest in the West Bank on Monday, with a 22-year-old Palestinian falling victim to Israeli forces outside the city of Hebron.Following the incident Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces clashed at the scene.
In another incident in Hebron, Israeli forces shot and killed a 19-year-old, outside the Cave of Patriarchs, known to Muslims as Ibrahimi Mosque.
The recent increase in tensions started in early October after Israel imposed restrictions on worshipers at Al-Aqsa mosque in East Al-Quds. So far this month, at least 56 Palestinians have been killed during Popular uprising or Intifada , while at least 10 Israelis have lost their lives.