Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex Ahead of Yom Kippur

Hundreds of settlers, escorted by Israeli police and special forces, entered the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday morning through the Mughrabi Gate. The incursions coincided with the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. Some settlers performed Talmudic rituals within the complex, while others had conducted similar prayers and rituals near the Golden Gate earlier that morning in response to calls for gatherings.

The previous night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall area in the Old City of Jerusalem to participate in the final Selichot prayers, under heavy security. Israeli Channel 12 reported that approximately 150,000 settlers attended the central ceremonies at the Western Wall. Netanyahu shared footage from tunnels and excavations beneath the Western Wall, near what he described as the "Holy of Holies," stating, "No one but us can be in this place."

The Jerusalem Committee of the Congress of Palestinians Abroad strongly condemned Netanyahu's visit to the Western Wall tunnels, calling it a provocation and a violation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque's sanctity. The committee criticized Netanyahu's remarks about exclusive rights to the site as an attempt to impose a religious and political narrative, urging the international community to take action, referencing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. They also called for broad Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic action to protest the visit and Netanyahu's statements.

These incursions occur during the Jewish holiday season, which began with Rosh Hashanah on September 12 and continues through Sukkot in early October. Settler groups have called for increased entries into and presence at Al-Aqsa. According to the المقدسي "Mirsad" statistics, 1,509 settlers entered Al-Aqsa last week, engaging in group prayers, "prostration" rituals, blowing the shofar, and educational circles. Meanwhile, Israeli forces intensified measures around the mosque, restricting access for worshippers and setting up barriers, hindering the arrival of many, including those with disabilities.

As Yom Kippur approaches on September 21, a day of fasting and prayer, Palestinian calls are escalating for increased presence at Al-Aqsa to counter settler incursions. Temple Mount groups are encouraging their followers to storm Al-Aqsa and intensify their presence, raising Palestinian concerns about the exploitation of the holiday to impose Jewish rituals within and around the mosque. Palestinian factions are urging increased mobilization and presence at Al-Aqsa to resist these incursions and preserve the site's existing religious and historical status.