Approximately 112 Israeli settlers, escorted by police, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate, conducted Talmudic rituals, and exited via the Chain Gate. This incident occurred during a Jewish holiday, with Israeli authorities reportedly intensifying restrictions on Palestinian access.
These incursions and the associated rituals are seen as a provocation that challenges the status quo at a highly sensitive holy site, potentially escalating tensions in the already volatile Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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.