Prince Hassan warns silencing prayer at Al-Aqsa signals dangerous regional escalation

Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan has warned that preventing prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque represents a dangerous signal for the region, stressing that recent developments have brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of the Arab political agenda.

Speaking in an interview with the Jordanian radio station Hayat FM on Sunday during a fundraising programme for the Medical Aid for Palestinians Association, Prince Hassan said the region is undergoing rapid transformations that require a reassessment of political positions.

The former Crown Prince of Jordan noted the emergence of Gulf voices calling for separating the Arab-Israeli conflict from the wider confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, though he did not name specific countries.

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Prince Hassan described the Levant as “the cradle of tragedy”, stressing that the human dimension of the Palestinian issue often receives insufficient attention despite recent legal developments at the international level.

He pointed to the role of the International Court of Justice, saying its rulings have strengthened the Palestinian position in international law and emphasised the need to maintain the humanitarian aspect of the conflict in any political or legal approach.

The prince also warned that the unprecedented expansion of Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank requires serious attention, arguing that addressing the Palestinian question today is closely linked to preserving the shared Arab and Islamic identity of the region.

Ignoring this dimension, he said, could threaten regional stability and the future of the Middle East.

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