Right-wing activist Baruch Marzel shared an AI-generated image portraying Israeli fighter jets parked beneath the golden dome that sits atop the Temple Mount, implying the existence of a secret Israeli Air Force base hidden under the structure. The image, clearly satirical, quickly spread across social media and gathered more than 100,000 views, triggering condemnation from officials in the Palestinian Authority.
The viral image showed the Muslim shrine, the Dome of the Rock, that is built on top of the Jewish Temple’s Holy of Holies, with aircraft appearing to be stationed in a subterranean hangar beneath it. Marzel accompanied the image with a sarcastic caption: “Note: Don’t share the photo of the secret Israeli Air Force base in Jerusalem, so it won’t be attacked.” The post circulated widely on the social network X and soon drew an official response from the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem district.
Palestinian officials issued a statement calling the image “dangerous incitement.” They argued that the post should not be dismissed as humor but viewed as part of what they described as a broader ideological campaign directed at the compound they call the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex. According to the statement, such imagery allegedly prepares public opinion for attacks against the site.
The controversy centers on the hilltop known in the Bible as the Temple Mount, the location of the First and Second Temples. Today, the platform contains Islamic structures, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. The area remains one of the most politically and religiously charged locations in the world.
Palestinian officials broadened their criticism beyond Marzel’s image. In the same statement, they referenced comments made in previous years by figures such as Yosef Mizrachi, who had spoken about bombing the mosque and later claimed it had already been destroyed by an Iranian missile strike. Palestinian authorities argued that these statements, combined with the viral image, contribute to escalating tensions around the compound.
The Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governorate also criticized Israeli security measures surrounding the site during the final days of Ramadan. According to Palestinian media outlet WAFA News Agency, officials accused Israel of maintaining restrictions on Muslim access to the compound during the closing period of the Islamic holy month.
Following Iranian missile barrages during March 2026, Israeli authorities imposed strict security restrictions, including temporary closures of the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque) to all worshippers regardless of religion to prevent casualties from rocket fire. These restrictions, aimed at protecting public safety, also impacted the Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Israeli authorities have said security policies around the Temple Mount fluctuate according to the security situation, particularly during periods of heightened conflict. Palestinian officials rejected that explanation, claiming the measures form part of what they described as a political attempt to alter the historical status of the site.
The PA accusations of a satirical Twitter post are ironic. Israeli authorities have accused Palestinian terrorists of violating the “status quo” by hiding weapons and using the Al-Aqsa Mosque for violent riots. While the Waqf (the Jordanian-funded Islamic trust) manages the site, reports indicate that terrorists have exploited the area. Three Israeli Arab gunmen smuggled weapons onto the Temple Mount and used the site as a staging ground for a fatal attack on police officers in July 2017. In the incident, three terrorists hid weapons inside before killing two Israeli police officers.
Despite the tragedy, Arabs are still afforded unrestricted access to the site without undergoing any security checks.
