Thousands of Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Monday morning, waving Israeli flags and performing Talmudic rituals, in a move that has intensified religious and political tensions in the region.
The incident coincided with Jerusalem Day, a national holiday marking Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Settlers marched through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, chanting and celebrating under heavy police escort, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters.
Heightened Security Amid Rising Tensions
Israeli police deployed thousands of officers across the area to prevent confrontations and potential attacks on Palestinian residents and businesses. Despite the precautions, local sources and international media have reported an atmosphere of increased hostility and restricted access to the compound for Muslim worshippers.
Al-Aqsa’s Religious Sensitivity
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam, and the area is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, where two ancient Jewish temples are believed to have stood. This overlapping religious significance makes the site one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs, there have been 21 recorded incidents of Israeli settlers entering the mosque compound during the first quarter of 2025, including several during the holy month of Ramadan.
Earlier this year, similar incursions took place during the Passover holiday, when settlers reportedly conducted religious ceremonies at Bab al-Rahma cemetery and the Western Wall Plaza, under protection from Israeli security forces.
Record Numbers and International Reactions
Data from the Governor of Jerusalem’s office indicates that 13,064 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa compound in the first three months of 2025 alone — a figure that has raised alarm among Palestinian authorities and Islamic organizations.
So far, there has been no official response from the Israeli government, but Palestinian and international observers warn that such actions risk further destabilizing an already volatile situation in Jerusalem and the broader region.
