On Thursday, a massive incursion led by ultra-nationalist Israeli ministers and members of parliament took place at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, coinciding with the Jewish religious fast day of Tisha B’Av.
A report by Middle East Eye stated that thousands of Israelis entered the mosque compound under heavy security, sparking renewed tensions.
According to the Palestinian Waqf Authority, more than 3,200 Israelis had entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by 12:00 PM local time, with the incursion expected to continue into the afternoon.
Participants in this incursion included Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir; the Minister for the Development of the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience, Yitzhak Wasserlauf; and Amit Halevi, an MP from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.
While at the mosque compound, Ben-Gvir remarked, “Look at what is happening here—Jews are praying here and regarding themselves as the owners of this place. This has never happened before.”
Obstruction of Fajr Prayers
Prior to the incursion, Israeli forces prevented many Palestinians from performing the Fajr (dawn) prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, forcing many worshippers to pray on nearby streets.
The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Waqf strongly condemned the incursion—led by Israeli officials—labeling it a “clear and grave aggression.”
A statement from the ministry described the event as a blatant violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and a serious attempt to alter the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It further asserted that the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa Mosque complex is the exclusive right of Muslims; it is indivisible and cannot be shared with anyone. The ministry warned that such provocative actions by the highest levels of the occupying government could ignite a religious war across the region. Participants Engage in Prohibited Activities
Many of those participating in this massive incursion were seen waving Israeli flags, singing, dancing, prostrating in prayer, and setting up shelters within the Al-Aqsa compound.
Such activities are prohibited under the long-standing “status quo” agreement. Regarding this, the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate noted that while groups were typically limited to around 30 people, on Thursday, groups of approximately 150 were permitted to enter.
Furthermore, whereas Jewish prayer was previously largely confined to the eastern section of the compound, permission was granted this time for prayer and the singing of religious hymns across the entire area, including the vicinity of the Dome of the Rock.
Incitement to Religious War
The Israeli peace organization “Peace Now” warned that such provocative actions at Al-Aqsa could spark a religious war.
In a statement, the organization said that highly dangerous provocations took place at the Temple Mount this morning. Large-scale Jewish prayer gatherings were held in front of the mosques, directly violating the long-standing status quo.
They stated that there is a direct link between the actions of those seeking to incite religious conflict and the violence perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank.
What is the Status Quo?
The status quo refers to a long-standing, internationally recognized arrangement governing the administration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Under this system, the entire 144-dunam Al-Aqsa complex is recognized as an Islamic holy site. Responsibility for access, prayer, maintenance, and archaeological excavation lies with the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf.
However, since the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has gradually undermined this arrangement.
Over time, Israel has wrested control of entry access from the Waqf and is facilitating daily entry into the Al-Aqsa compound for hardline nationalist Israelis.
In recent years, the number of participants in these incursions has risen significantly. At the same time, Israeli authorities have permitted Jews to pray and fly flags within the Al-Aqsa compound.
Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the senior preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, warned on Wednesday that Israeli authorities are exploiting Jewish religious holidays to increase incursions into Al-Aqsa and are attempting to alter the mosque’s long-standing historical status.
He alleged that the Israeli government is seeking to lend political legitimacy to these actions by organizing large-scale incursions involving ministers, government officials, and Knesset members.
