Jerusalem: Nearly 200 illegal Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy Israeli police protection, according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
Officials said 182 settlers forced entry into the compound during morning and evening periods. Groups reportedly carried out Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock. The entry happened while Israeli police restricted access for Palestinian worshippers.
The same statement reported the entry of 778 foreign tourists into the mosque compound through a gate controlled by Israeli authorities. Official figures show a wider trend. During November alone, 4,266 illegal settlers and around 15,000 foreign tourists accessed the sacred site.
Al-Aqsa Mosque holds deep importance for Muslims across the world. It stands as Islam’s third-holiest site and remains a central symbol of religious identity in Jerusalem.
Israeli forces occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab Israeli War and later annexed the city in 1980. The move faces rejection from the international community.
Jerusalem based institutions describe the repeated incursions as coordinated actions. These actions include guided tours and ritual practices inside the compound. Observers say such moves aim to impose temporal and spatial division within the mosque area.
The Islamic Waqf, which administers the site, maintains a clear position. The entire 144 dunum compound remains an exclusively Muslim place of worship.
Local groups continue to warn of rising pressure on Al-Aqsa. They link the pattern of incursions with restrictions placed on Palestinian access. The developments add to ongoing tensions at one of Islam’s most sacred locations.
