Jerusalem Governorate: 480 Israelis entered Al-Aqsa Mosque

Jerusalem Governorate says 480 Israelis entered Al-Aqsa Mosque

Jerusalem Governorate announced that 480 Israelis entered Al-Aqsa Mosque on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. WAFA reported that the group performed Talmudic rituals and prayed collectively in the courtyard.

Scraper SystemSeptember 13, 2026, 05:49 PM

Jerusalem Governorate says 480 Israelis entered Al-Aqsa Mosque

Jerusalem Governorate announced that the group entering Al-Aqsa Mosque on the second day of Rosh Hashanah consisted of 480 Israelis. The governorate described them as Israelis occupying Palestinian territory.

WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, reported that the Israelis entered the courtyard of the holy site through the Moroccan Gate. The agency said they conducted provocative tours of the courtyard, performed Talmudic rituals and prayed collectively.

Debate over the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque

In 2003, the Israeli administration unilaterally decided to allow Israelis to raid Al-Aqsa Mosque. Since then, raids and incursions by extremist Jewish groups have continued on days other than Fridays and Saturdays.

Under the peace treaty signed between Israel and Jordan on October 26, 1994, Al-Aqsa Mosque is under the guardianship of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Administration, which is affiliated with Jordan's Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places.

Since 2003, Jews have entered the holy site under police escort, without permission from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Administration and in line with Israel's unilateral decision. The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Administration describes these entries as raids and emphasizes that they violate Muslim sovereignty.

Excavations beneath the compound

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound includes the Qibli Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, as well as museums, religious schools and a large courtyard. Israelis are conducting excavations beneath the compound based on the claim that the remains of Solomon's Temple are located there.

The Israeli administration says that only Muslims may worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, while members of other religions may only visit the site, arguing that the historic status quo is being preserved. However, prayers and religious rituals during entries protected by Israeli police frequently come under scrutiny.

Most ultra-Orthodox Jewish religious scholars in Israel say that Jews are religiously prohibited from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Jerusalem Governorate says 480 Israelis entered Al-Aqsa Mosque