Key facts
- Around 112 Israeli settlers, protected by police, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
- Settlers entered through the Moroccan Gate and performed Talmudic rituals.
- The incursions occurred during a Jewish holiday, with increased restrictions on Palestinian access.
- Since 2003, settlers have stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque five days a week under police protection.
Approximately 112 Israeli settlers, accompanied by a police escort, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to reports. The settlers reportedly entered through the Moroccan Gate, toured the mosque's courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals before leaving through the Chain Gate.
Eyewitnesses stated that the settlers arrived in organized groups and carried out rituals under the protection of Israeli forces. The Israeli authorities also enforced strict restrictions on Palestinian access to the site, limiting entry as settlers conducted their visits. These measures coincided with the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, a period during which Palestinian worshippers report intensified restrictions around Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Since 2003, settlers have been storming Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli occupation forces five days a week. In recent years, they have escalated from silent public prayers to performing Talmudic rituals and raising the flag of the occupying state inside the mosque. Temple Mount organizations are reportedly seeking to gradually impose the presence of Talmudic ritual tools in Al-Aqsa, which is seen as an escalation aimed at changing the Islamic character of the mosque. Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank in October 2023, over 68,000 settlers have reportedly stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under protection.