As Jewish Passover begins, Jerusalem braces for what Palestinians describe as one of the most dangerous times for Al-Aqsa Mosque. The ancient city has been transformed into a fortress, sealed off by thousands of Israeli forces and military checkpoints. What is presented as a religious festival has once again become a pretext for what many see as a deepening campaign to Judaise occupied East Jerusalem.

For Palestinians, Passover no longer marks just a biblical commemoration—it symbolises the start of a months-long season of provocative raids, religious incitement, and dangerous attempts to assert control over the courtyards of Al-Aqsa. Religious extremists, backed by a complicit government, seek to impose biblical rituals at Islam’s third holiest site—rituals that include animal sacrifices and symbolic “temple” ceremonies aimed at reviving the myth of a Jewish temple atop the ruins of the Dome of the Rock.

Experts warn that these acts are not isolated but form part of a wider ideological project. The incursion of so-called “Temple Priests” in white robes, public prayers directed at the Dome, and calls to build an altar in Al-Aqsa’s courtyards are seen by Palestinians as direct threats to their religious and cultural identity. More than a place of worship, Al-Aqsa represents steadfastness against decades of occupation.

The timing is especially dangerous. From April to October, a series of national-religious Israeli holidays intensifies the targeting of the mosque. The overlap of Passover with Ramadan in past years has already led to bloody confrontations. Now, with extremist groups openly calling for the sacrifice of lambs at Al-Aqsa and with senior Israeli officials engaging in symbolic acts of incitement, the fear of escalation is very real.

This is not simply a dispute over religious space. It is a battle over sovereignty, memory, and the right of a people to preserve their heritage against erasure. Despite over 1,500 settler incursions into Al-Aqsa last year alone, international silence continues to embolden those seeking to rewrite Jerusalem’s identity.

For Palestinians, defending Al-Aqsa is defending the soul of their homeland.