Against the backdrop of the terrorist attack on the Temple Mount and the flare-up in the Muslim world over Israel’s decision to erect metal detectors at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, Islamic associations in Lebanon and Turkey, most of which have ties to Hamas and the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, have demonstrated support for the Palestinian struggle against Israel’s sovereignty on the Temple Mount. This support is expressed not only in online campaigns condemning the change in the status quo on the Temple Mount compound, in the demand to allow freedom of worship for Muslims in the holy sites and in the rejection of any Israeli security arrangement in the compound, but also in an online fundraising campaign to increase the Palestinian presence near the Temple Mount. The campaign expressed a desire to strengthen Islamic identity with the Temple Mount and Jerusalem, and sends the message that any Israeli attempt to apply sovereignty on the Temple Mount compound will be met with resistance. We are not talking about a specific protest, but rather an ongoing effort by a network of Islamic organizations and activists who see themselves as agents of change in Muslim countries, entrusted with promoting the issue of Jerusalem in the consciousness of civil society and decision-makers, in order to weaken Israel’s regional and international standing and to incite the region.

The Internet fundraising campaign, which began on July 22, is being led by two major organizations:

1)      “Al-Aqsa Committee for Assistance” (Hayat Nusrat Al-Aqsa), which belongs to Al-Jama’a al-Islamiyah (founded in 2014), the Muslim Brotherhood wing in Lebanon.[1]   

2)      “Jerusalem is Entrusted in Me” (Multaqa Al-Quds Amanati) (founded in 1964). An umbrella organization of organization composed of Muslim activists from various Muslim countries that was by the Turkish Islamic Association, “Uluslararas? ?rade Gençlik Derne?ine”, or “Irade” for short. [2]

In the framework of the campaign, banners were published on social networks under the hashtag, “Stand Guard on Al-Aqsa” (Rabit fi al-Aqsa) in which Muslims were called on to donate at least ten dollars “in order to support the murabitun [who are standing guard] at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque” and to transfer the donations by means of a special telephone number assigned to the fund or through several Islamic associations in Lebanon, including:[3]

1. “Islamic Association for Guidance and Reforms” (Jam‘iyyat al-Irshad wal-Islah) ^[4] founded in 1984 in Beirut.
2. “Islamic Union Association” (Jam‘iyyat al-Itihad al-Islami) [5] founded in 1993.
3. “Muslim Student League” (Rabitat al-Tullab al-Muslimin) [6] 994.founded in 1
4. “Jerusalem Youth League” (Rabitat Shabab Bayt al-Maqdis) ^[7] founded in 1998.
5. “Youth of the Nation” (Shabab al-Umma) [8]founded in 2012.
6. “Activist Youth” (Shabab Taharuk). [9]
7. “Islamic League of Students of Palestine” (Al-Rabita al-Islamiyya li-Talabat Filastin). [10]

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