On Sunday, approximately 1,390 illegal Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, according to a Palestinian agency. This significant influx of settlers was reported to have occurred under the protection of Israeli police, who facilitated their entry through the Mughrabi Gate located in the mosque’s western wall.
Eyewitnesses noted that among the settlers was far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who allegedly participated in Talmudic rituals within the compound. This participation took place amidst reports of restrictions imposed on Muslim worshippers attempting to access the site. However, Ben-Gvir’s office refuted claims of his direct involvement, asserting that he merely greeted the settlers at the entrance without entering the mosque itself.
Since 2003, the Israeli authorities have permitted settlers to access the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound nearly every day, with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays. This practice has heightened tensions in the area, particularly given the mosque’s significance in Islam as the third-holiest site, while Jews refer to it as the “Temple Mount,” which they believe to be the historical location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel captured East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and subsequently annexed the city in 1980, a move that has not received recognition from the international community and continues to be a focal point of conflict in the region.
