Over 200 settlers led by rabbi storm Al-Aqsa with police protection

Over 200 extremist Jewish settlers, accompanied by a rabbi, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Monday under the protection of Israeli police. According to an official from the Islamic Waqf Department, 215 extremists entered the site during morning and afternoon prayers, with video footage showing the rabbi performing Talmudic prayers on the stairs leading to the Dome of the Rock.

Palestinian condemnation

The Jerusalem Governorate, an official Palestinian body, expressed “rejection and condemnation” of the storming, calling it “a blatant violation of the sanctity of the site and a provocation of the feelings of Muslims worldwide.” The governorate emphasized that such practices are part of an ongoing escalation and systematic violations against Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. Since 2003, Israeli police have allowed settler entries despite repeated objections from the Islamic Waqf, the site’s custodian.

Rising tensions and religious significance

Violations at Al-Aqsa have increased since Itamar Ben-Gvir became Israel’s national security minister in late 2022. Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam’s third-holiest site. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it was the site of two ancient Jewish temples. Palestinians accuse Israel of intensifying efforts to Judaize occupied East Jerusalem, which they envision as the capital of a future Palestinian state, in line with international resolutions that reject Israel’s 1967 occupation and 1980 annexation.