Israel Restricts Access to Al-Aqsa Mosque Amid Jewish Holiday Observances

Israeli forces on Sunday prevented several worshippers, including elderly individuals, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound or praying near the Lions' Gate (Bab al-Asbat) during the afternoon prayer. They were reportedly told to return after 3:30 PM, according to Jerusalem Governorate media. These restrictions coincided with continued settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the second day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday, also known as "Eid al-Arsh" in Arabic. The area around the mosque's gates saw intensified religious rituals and group tours by settlers, with particular focus at the Cotton Merchants' Gate (Bab al-Qattanin).

Earlier on Sunday, large groups of settlers gathered at the Cotton Merchants' Gate, performing Talmudic rituals and prayers. Participants were seen wearing Jewish prayer shawls, "tallit," and carrying the "Four Species" of plants used in Sukkot rituals. These activities included organized group tours within the mosque compound, accompanied by religious rites and prayers, occurring simultaneously with the restrictions imposed on worshippers.

The Jerusalem Governorate media stated that the measures preventing worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa or praying near the Lions' Gate were implemented around the afternoon prayer, with those denied entry instructed to return later. These actions come amid a continuous increase in Talmudic rituals at the mosque's gates and courtyards during Jewish holidays, with a recurring focus on the Cotton Merchants' Gate.

The religious activities observed at Al-Aqsa and its surrounding gates are part of the ongoing Jewish holiday period, which typically features heightened rituals and tours within the compound. On the second day of Sukkot, these rituals were notably concentrated at the Cotton Merchants' Gate, followed by group tours of various gates, all while access for some worshippers was tightened.