British MP asks government to clarify stance on Jordanian custodianship of Al-Aqsa

<article data-history-node-id="441632" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-mp-asks-uk-government-if-it-will-oppose-us-israeli-attempt-strip-jordan-al-aqsa" class="story default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/british-mp-asks-uk-government-if-it-will-oppose-us-israeli-attempt-strip-jordan-al-aqsa" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">British MP asks government to clarify stance on Jordanian custodianship of Al-Aqsa </span> </a> </h2> <footer> <div class="author"> Submitted by <span class="field field-uid"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/imran-mulla" lang about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/imran-mulla" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>Imran Mulla</a></span> on <span class="field field-created"><time datetime="2026-06-03T15:31:10+01:00" title="3 June 2026 15:31 BST">Wed, 06/03/2026 - 15:31</time> </span> </div> </footer> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-subhead">Leicester MP Shockat Adam asked for UK government position on reports that US and Israel plan to strip Jordan of oversight role</div> <div class="field field-field-main-image"> <picture> <source srcset="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/crop_16_9/public/images-story/000_B44X3UT%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=MefsPBjb 1x" type="image/webp" width="1024" height="576"> <img srcset="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/crop_16_9/public/images-story/000_B44X3UT%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=MefsPBjb 1x" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/000_B44X3UT%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?itok=ZYoKw0xF" alt="Muslim devotees with their children gather at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on May 27, 2026, to mark the start of Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice." typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </picture> </div> <div class="field field-field-cutline">Muslim devotees with their children gather at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on 27 May 2026, to mark the start of Eid al-Adha (AFP)</div> <div class="field field-field-wide-photo-video">Off</div> <div class="field field-body clearfix"><p>Shockat Adam, the Independent MP for Leicester South, has written to the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk">British </a>foreign secretary urging the government to "unequivocally" oppose attempts by the <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us">US </a>and <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel">Israel </a>to remove <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/jordan">Jordan's </a>custodianship over Al-Aqsa Mosque.</p> <p>The comments come after Middle East Eye&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestine-al-aqsa-us-israel-strip-jordan-custodianship-sources-say" target="_blank">reported last week</a>&nbsp;that the&nbsp;US&nbsp;and Israel are conspiring to strip the Jordanian royal family of its historic custodianship of Al-Aqsa, which is enshrined in a long-standing status quo agreement.&nbsp;</p> <p>A US official has denied the report, but under the plan described to MEE by American, Jordanian and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine" target="_blank">Palestinian</a>&nbsp;officials, Israel would gain control over the appointment of imams and senior mosque officials.&nbsp;</p> <p>The plan, reportedly being pushed by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Ambassador Mike Huckabee, would also give Israel a role in approving the content of Friday sermons.&nbsp;</p> <p>In a letter sent on 29 May to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Adam said: "Many constituents have contacted me expressing outrage and alarm at these reports.</p><div class="block-adsense block-adsense-managed-ad-block"><div> <div class="adsense responsive"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6114695881218027" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <!-- responsive --> <ins class="adsbygoogle mee-auto-ad-wrapper " style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6114695881218027" data-ad-slot="8690493793" data-ad-format="horizontal" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </div> </div> <p>"For Palestinians and Muslims around the world, Al-Aqsa Mosque is not only a place of worship, but a symbol of identity, dignity, and protection against ongoing dispossession."</p> <p>Adam asked Cooper a series of questions. He asked whether the government has raised the reports "directly with the Israeli and US governments".</p> <p>He asked whether the government continues to support Jordan's custodianship role over Al-Aqsa.</p> <p>Adam further asked what assessment the government has made of the "risks of further ethnic cleansing" and instability arising "from attempts to alter the status of the holy sites".</p> <p>He also asked whether the government would "publicly oppose any efforts to undermine Jordan's recognised custodianship role".</p><div class="block-adsense block-adsense-managed-ad-block"><div> <div class="adsense responsive"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6114695881218027" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <!-- responsive --> <ins class="adsbygoogle mee-auto-ad-wrapper " style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6114695881218027" data-ad-slot="8690493793" data-ad-format="horizontal" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </div> </div> <p>MEE has put Adam's letter to the British Foreign Office and asked for comment.&nbsp;</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have written urgently to the Foreign Secretary regarding reports that Israel and the US are discussing removing Jordan’s custodianship over Al-Aqsa Mosque.<br> <br> At no point is this interference acceptable - especially not against the backdrop of genocide in Gaza. Any attempt to… <a href="https://t.co/76aCQvTAmx">pic.twitter.com/76aCQvTAmx</a></p> — Shockat Adam MP (@ShockatAdam) <a href="https://x.com/ShockatAdam/status/2060421315828367492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Official UK policy is to accept Jordan's custodianship over Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.&nbsp;</p> <p>Two US officials told MEE that Washington had drafted a paper on how they envisaged the mosque's future.</p> <p>The officials said that the Trump administration would like to see the Al-Aqsa Mosque stripped of its Muslim identity, with the site turned into a landmark tourist attraction that hosts all three Abrahamic religions.</p> <p>A western official, and a source briefed by the Jordanian government, told MEE that, according to a proposal they had seen, Arab countries could be granted "rotational" oversight of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.</p> </div> <div class="field field-field-topic"><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/uk-politics" hreflang="en">UK Politics</a></div> <div class="field field-field-coauthor-location"> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-field-article-location"> </div> <div class="field field-field-section"><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/all" hreflang="en">News</a></div> <div class="field field-field-post-date-override"> <div>Post Date Override</div> <div>0</div> </div> <div class="field field-field-update-date-override"> <div>Update Date</div> <div><time datetime="2020-05-04T21:19:45+01:00">Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field-field-update-date-check"> <div>Update Date Override</div> <div>0</div> </div> </div> </article>