An A.I. video generated by a group calling itself the Temple Mount Activists envisioning a miraculous reestablishment of the Jewish Temple led Qatar to condemn “plans” to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque, in a statement put out by its foreign ministry on April 19.
“The State of Qatar strongly condemns reports of plans by groups affiliated with Israeli occupation organizations to destroy the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with the so-called Temple,” the Ministry statement said.
“Qatar considers this a dangerous provocation that could significantly escalate violence in the region, especially amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip,” it added.
The A.I. video shows the Dome of the Rock suddenly engulfed in flames. In its place appears the Jewish Temple with flames coming out the top while the Shema prayer plays. The caption, “Next year in Jerusalem, messiah now,” displays toward the end of the video.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry issued a statement of strong condemnation following an animated video simulating the construction of the Temple on the Temple Mount that will occur hopefully in our lifetime pic.twitter.com/baU747CcXu
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 20, 2025
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said it unequivocally rejected “any attempt to alter the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, or its holy sites.”
It called on the international community to halt such threats, hold the “the occupying power” (i.e. Israel) accountable, and ensure the protection of Muslim holy sites.
The statement then went on to express support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution.
Although Israel had not designated Qatar as an “enemy state” that Israeli citizens are prohibited from visiting without a special permit issued by the Interior Ministry (the U.S. classifies it as a major non-NATO ally), it has supported terrorist groups, including Hamas, Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. It also runs the Al Jazeera television network, which Israel and the Palestinian Authority have banned, as have other countries in the region.
Last week, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Affairs Minister Sa’oud bin Abd Al-Rahman Al Thani published and then quickly deleted a post on X saying: “We Are all Hamas.”
He also deleted a 2014 post he wrote during “Operation Protective Edge,” a war between Hamas and Israel, in which he called for Muslims in Jerusalem to “rise up” and “revolt.”
The Temple Mount Activists have posted similar videos in the past. According to WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s news agency, the group posted an image of the construction of the Temple on Al-Aqsa’s ruins.
In September 2024, the group posted a video of Al-Aqsa burning with the caption, “Coming soon in these days.”
