Hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, protected by Israeli forces, marking a significant escalation at one of the most sensitive sites in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This event took place during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, a weeklong festivity that began on September 29 and concluded on October 6.
The settlers, accompanied by police, entered the mosque's courtyards through the Al-Mughrabi Gate, attempting to perform "Talmudic rituals" within the complex.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, located on a hilltop in the Old City of Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam and is also revered by Jews, who refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," believing it to be the site of two ancient Jewish temples.
The incident has heightened tensions, particularly after Israeli police imposed restrictions at the mosque's entrances, barring worshippers under 45 from entering and assaulting Palestinian worshippers during dawn prayers to make way for the settlers.
Israeli police also arrested several Palestinians, including mosque guards and employees of the Islamic Waqf Council, which oversees the site.
These actions have sparked widespread criticism and are seen as part of a broader pattern of increasing visits by religious and far-right Israelis to the Al-Aqsa compound, raising fears among Palestinians of a potential takeover or partition of the site.
The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, including recent confrontations in Jerusalem and a fragile ceasefire in Gaza following an 11-day Israeli bombing campaign.
The international community has not recognized Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque is situated, following its occupation in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
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