Israeli settlers and high-ranking politicians stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem over the weekend, performing Jewish prayers and rituals during a series of provocative acts leading up to Yom Kippur and next month’s Israeli general election, according to verified reports from the Palestinian Jerusalem governorate and regional media.
Settler Incursions and Subterranean Visits During Yom Kippur
The weekend events featured waves of settlers entering the holy site above ground alongside high-profile subterranean visits by Israeli leadership. According to the Palestinian Jerusalem governorate, approximately 570 settlers had stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by 10:00 AM local time on Sunday, performing Talmudic rituals and prostrations to mark Yom Kippur. Arab News reported an additional figure of around 240 Israeli settlers storming the courtyards under heavy police protection as forces increased military measures around the mosque and the Old City of Jerusalem to mark the end of the Jewish New Year, which began on Friday and lasts until Sunday. On Thursday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and others also entered the compound for the holiday.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a labyrinth of excavation tunnels running beneath occupied East Jerusalem’s bustling Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Saturday. Netanyahu posted videos and photographs on his official Instagram account early Sunday morning that recorded his involvement in Jewish Selichot prayers at the Western Wall, which Muslims refer to as the al-Buraq Wall. Accompanied by government ministers and thousands of settlers, Netanyahu made his way to the plaza behind security forces, performing rituals from behind bulletproof glass. In an excavation video, Netanyahu stated: “Well, we are in the tunnels at the al-Buraq Wall. It is moving to touch the rock of our existence. We are here very close to the Holy of Holies. We are here, and we will always remain here.”
Did You Know? Since the occupation of East Jerusalem in June 1967, the Al-Aqsa compound—Islam’s third-holiest site, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif—has frequently been the focal point of conflicts involving restrictions on Muslim worshippers and raids by Israeli settlers.
Political Motivations and Regional Repercussions
Ahmed al-Hila, a political analyst specializing in Middle East affairs and the Arab-Israeli conflict, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu is leveraging religious symbolism to secure his political survival ahead of October’s general election as he trails in polls against rival Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party. Al-Hila noted that the prime minister sought to consolidate the Israeli political and religious narrative at Al-Aqsa to gather votes as an electoral lever. The analyst added that Netanyahu’s appearance behind a bulletproof glass shield above ground indicates that Jerusalem has not submitted to Israeli security control. The visit also coincides with global criticism over the controversial illegal settlement project E1, which the Israeli government has issued tenders for to sever East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian group Hamas strongly condemned the incursions via a press statement on its official Telegram channel. Hamas stated that the actions of Netanyahu represent a blatant attack on the identity and status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The group rejected ongoing excavations under the holy site and emphasized its exclusively Islamic heritage. Arab News noted that several far-right ministers and Knesset members in Netanyahu’s coalition government have publicly endorsed plans for settlers, who refer to the area as the Temple Mount, to establish a presence in the compound for prayers.
Expert Insight: Subterranean excavations and high-level political visits to contested religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem carry immense symbolic and operational weight. As analysts point out, such actions function simultaneously as domestic electoral mobilization and as direct assertions of sovereignty that profoundly escalate tensions across the occupied territories and the wider region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who participated in the visits to the Al-Aqsa compound and Western Wall tunnels?
According to the sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, several government ministers, and thousands of Israeli settlers took part in the weekend visits and prayers.
What specific actions did settlers take inside the holy site?
The Palestinian Jerusalem governorate reported that settlers stormed the courtyards, performed Talmudic rituals, and engaged in prostrations, while Arab News reported that settlers raised Israeli flags and performed rituals under heavy police protection.
How have Palestinian groups responded to the incursions?
The Palestinian group Hamas issued a strong condemnation via Telegram, labeling the visits and excavations a blatant attack on the identity and status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and a provocation to Palestinians and Arab and Islamic nations.
How will these holiday incursions impact the upcoming October general election and regional security dynamics?
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