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'Al-Aqsa Association' is another branch of the Islamic Movement founded in 1991. Former Ra'am Party MKs hold various positions in the association, and Ghazi Issa, the current Igatha 48 CEO, was in the past the association's manager. The association is officially involved in assisting needy families, funding meals for breaking the Ramadan Fast (Iftar) on the Temple Mount, renovating mosques and Muslim cemeteries, and running cultural activities in holy places to Islam. The organization is known for organizing mass transportation of Muslims to events and prayers on the Temple Mount to support "Muslims' exclusive sovereignty on Al-Aqsa" and "to protect Al-Aqsa," even during times of high tensions on the Temple Mount or fighting in Gaza.
The Islamic Movement uses the association to operate on the Temple Mount and gain a foothold there. The Islamic Movement also uses the association to declare threats against the Israeli government, lest they dare exercise their sovereignty on the Temple Mount. From 2007 to 2019, Al-Aqsa received donations from Islamic funds, totaling approximately 12,500,000 NIS. Pay attention to where the money comes from: Qatar Charity: In 2007, the Qatar Charity donated 41,513 NIS to the association. In July 2008, the fund was declared an 'illegal association' in Israel due to financial ties with Hamas. According to the Bureau of Counter Terror, the association is still, to date, considered an illegal association in Israel. In September 2015, the fund's managers were arrested in Ramallah and imprisoned for several years, convicted of transferring funds to Hamas' terrorism infrastructure. Human Appeal: An organization with financial ties to Hamas, for which it was declared an illegal association in Israel in 2008. Despite this, the fund continued to donate money to the Al-Aqsa organization. In 2015, the Ministry of Defense confiscated a mobile mosque set up by the Al-Aqsa Association from the illicit funds it received from the fund. Islamic Relief: In 2014, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon declared the fund an illegal association in Israel because it had transferred funds to Hamas. In 2009, the fund donated 885,241 NIS to Al Aqsa, and in 2010 another 93,840 NIS. Aman Palestine: At the beginning of 2015, the fund donated 125,150 NIS to the organization and opened a joint training course for tour guides on the Temple Mount. In June of that year, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon declared it an illegal association in Israel, and in July, Israel issued a confiscation order of all funds originating from it. Following the order, the Ministry of Defense confiscated all of Al-Aqsa's bank account assets. |
