Israel is facing accusations of systematically attempting to change the religious identity of Jerusalem by tightening control over Muslim and Christian holy sites. On Holy Saturday, Israeli security forces detained Palestinian Christians attempting to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the traditional site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial), while on Orthodox Easter, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led supporters in prayers inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, violating a long-standing ban on non-Muslim worship there. Critics argue these incidents reflect a broader effort to dismantle the historic Status Quo — a centuries-old arrangement dating to the Ottoman era that governs religious access in Jerusalem — replacing it with unchecked Israeli authority over one of the world's most contested cities.