The Jerusalem Governorate announced that 25,604 settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque during the first half of 2026, while approximately 660 Palestinians were removed from the mosque and the Old City during the same period. The announcement came as calls for religious rituals to be conducted at the site during Jewish holidays increased.
Ruhi Fattuh, president of the Palestinian National Council, also said in a statement on Saturday that Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem must not be turned into an "organized site of religious confrontation."
The Jewish holidays began on Friday and will continue until the beginning of October. Fattuh described calls for incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque during this period as a transition from "Jud judaization policies to imposing a new reality in the religious and sovereignty spheres through the use of force."
Fattuh said Al-Aqsa Mosque was an indivisible whole in both its physical space and religious significance. He described any change to its existing historical and legal status or the imposition of different religious rituals at the site as a violation of freedom of worship.
Holding the Israeli government and the groups he said supported Jewish extremist groups responsible for events at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Fattuh called on states and international organizations to take urgent and binding measures to halt incursions and rituals that increase tensions.
Jerusalem Governorate announces holiday dates
The Jerusalem Governorate said settlers were attempting to forcibly perform religious rituals around the mosque and in front of its gates. The governorate said the effort was intended to create a new fait accompli and warned that the highest level of vigilance would be required in the coming days.
According to the holiday calendar, the events will begin on September 12 and 13. Yom Kippur will be observed on September 21, Sukkot from September 26 to October 2, and Simchat Torah on October 3.
Access arrangements at Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli police have allowed settlers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque unilaterally since 2003, while the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department has repeatedly demanded that the practice be halted.
Palestinians argue that efforts are being made to erase the city’s Arab and Islamic identity in East Jerusalem. Palestinians regard the area as the capital of their future state.
