Israeli settlers are planning significant incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque during Hanukkah, which runs until January 2. The holiday will feature rituals and Talmudic ceremonies, including attempts to bring a menorah into the mosque's courtyards. According to Jewish tradition, Hanukkah is closely tied to the narrative of the "Temple," making this period particularly sensitive for Al-Aqsa, as extremist settler groups use the occasion to assert their claims over the sacred site.

These plans also include a provocative "Maccabees March" set for Thursday evening, December 26, in occupied Jerusalem. The march will start in West Jerusalem and pass through key gates of the Old City, further heightening tensions. Palestinian activists and organizations have responded with calls for mass mobilization at Al-Aqsa Mosque to counter settler incursions and Israeli restrictions on Palestinian worshippers.

Naser Al-Hidmi, an expert on Jerusalem affairs, stated that these incursions are part of a broader strategy by Israeli authorities to exploit Jewish holidays to escalate tensions at Al-Aqsa. He emphasized that Al-Aqsa is an exclusively Islamic site, and Israeli attempts to Judaize it are a violation of Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic rights. Al-Hidmi warned that such provocations are part of a larger plan to transform Al-Aqsa into a space for Jewish worship and ultimately build the "Third Temple" on its grounds.

Israeli authorities have imposed increased restrictions on Palestinians during Jewish holidays, particularly in the Old City and around Al-Aqsa. Streets are closed, checkpoints are intensified, and worshippers face heightened scrutiny and harassment. Extremist groups have become emboldened by past court rulings permitting limited Jewish prayer near the mosque’s gates, further encouraging provocations.

Ziad Ibhais, another Jerusalem affairs expert, explained that extremist groups are using Hanukkah to demand greater control over Jerusalem’s Islamic endowments, aiming to exclude Jordan from any role in Al-Aqsa’s administration. He warned that settler groups seek to redefine Al-Aqsa as a shared religious space, a step toward its full Judaization.

The "Maccabees March" represents a growing effort to institutionalize Hanukkah as a season for provocations at Al-Aqsa. Despite a recent police ban on a similar event, settler groups hope to rally greater support for their agenda. Ibhais noted that Al-Aqsa has become a focal point in the struggle for dominance in Jerusalem, with the "Temple Movement" pushing to enshrine Hanukkah as a major period for provocations.

As Hanukkah continues, the situation at Al-Aqsa remains volatile. Palestinians in Jerusalem are calling for unity and resistance to counter ongoing attempts to alter the status quo of one of Islam’s holiest sites.