Qatar blasts Israel over shocking 'Al-Aqsa replacement' video showing the Third Temple

A digitally produced video portraying the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) on Har HaBayis has ignited a heated diplomatic exchange, with Qatar accusing Israel of harboring plans to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The video, created using artificial intelligence by a fringe group known as the “Temple Mount Activists,” is entirely conceptual and not affiliated with any official Israeli entity. However, its content, which includes the Dome of the Rock engulfed in flames, followed by the sudden appearance of a majestic Third Beis HaMikdash, triggered immediate condemnation from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.

The video ends with the Hebrew phrases “Next year in Yerushalayim” and “Moshiach now,” accompanied by the recitation of “Shema Yisrael.” Though the video is widely viewed as symbolic, Qatar called it a “dangerous provocation” and accused Israel of conspiring to demolish Islamic holy sites. In a formal statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry alleged that groups “affiliated with Israeli occupation organizations” were plotting to replace the Al-Aqsa Mosque with what it called “the so-called Temple.”

The statement further warned that such rhetoric and imagery could escalate tensions in the region, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Qatar reiterated its longstanding rejection of Israeli sovereignty over Yerushalayim and its support for a two-state solution. The Gulf nation also urged the international community to intervene and “hold the occupying power accountable” for attempts to alter the historical and legal status of the Temple Mount.

Qatar’s reaction arrives amid broader scrutiny of its political alliances and media influence. The country has faced global criticism for its backing of Hamas, a U.S. and EU-designated terrorist organization, and the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, its state-funded news outlet, Al Jazeera, has drawn backlash from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority for spreading incendiary content and was recently banned from operating in Israel.

Adding to the controversy, Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Sa’oud bin Abd Al-Rahman Al Thani, recently deleted a tweet stating, “We are all Hamas,” which had sparked widespread condemnation. He also removed a 2014 post encouraging Muslims in Yerushalayim to “rise up” during a previous Israeli military operation. While the video at the center of the uproar remains an unofficial artistic expression, the fallout reveals the volatility surrounding religious and political symbolism in the region.