Jerusalem governorate reports 7 attempts to bring sacrifices to Al-Aqsa

Palestinian authorities in Jerusalem have raised alarms over what they describe as a dangerous escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque, reporting that seven documented attempts were made during this year’s Jewish Passover holiday to bring sacrificial animals into the compound. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that this marks the highest number of such attempts recorded since 1967. In two of the attempts, Israeli occupiers managed to reach the vicinity of Jerusalem’s Old City with the animals as part of repeated efforts to perform religious rituals inside the mosque compound—a site known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

Closure of holy sites continues

The governorate warned that extremist groups are exploiting the ongoing closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque to intensify incitement campaigns, including through videos and AI-generated content aimed at mobilizing supporters. Israeli authorities have kept both Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre closed for 37 consecutive days, citing security concerns. Palestinians say Israel is using the closure to tighten control over the mosque compound and impose further restrictions on Muslim worshippers. The governorate noted that Friday marked the ninth time since 1967 that Israel closed Al-Aqsa on a Friday—a day of particular religious significance. The mosque’s courtyards remained empty except for a small number of Islamic Waqf employees.

Regional context and Türkiye’s position

The closures come amid heightened regional tensions following the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28, and the subsequent expansion of conflict to Lebanon on March 2. Israeli police have also restricted access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre after European countries criticized authorities for barring Christian leaders from Palm Sunday celebrations. For Türkiye, which has long championed the protection of Islamic holy sites and maintains strong ties with Palestinian authorities, the continued closure of Al-Aqsa and attempts to change its status quo are deeply concerning. Ankara has repeatedly called on the international community to act against what it describes as Israeli violations in occupied Jerusalem and has urged the immediate reopening of all holy sites to worshippers of all faiths.