In a deeply provocative display, Israeli settlers staged Talmudic rituals and danced through the streets of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday, as worshippers departed the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Their presence, accompanied by Israeli forces, comes amid escalating efforts to alter the status quo at one of Islam’s holiest sites.

Local witnesses described settlers in religious garb occupying key areas near Alaa Al-Din Street, openly performing rituals under the watchful protection of Israeli police. Meanwhile, Palestinian worshippers faced intense restrictions, with checkpoints and military deployment tightening around Al-Aqsa’s gates, especially during Friday prayers and moments of spiritual reflection.

Palestinian voices have renewed urgent calls for mobilisation to safeguard the mosque, which they view not only as a place of worship but as a symbol of national and spiritual identity. With settler incursions rising during Jewish holidays and growing talk of ritual sacrifices within the compound, fears are mounting over the gradual erosion of Muslim custodianship.

Al-Aqsa is not just a religious site, it is a living testament to Palestinian history and rootedness in Jerusalem. As worship is met with restrictions and settlers are welcomed with impunity, the struggle for Al-Aqsa mirrors the wider struggle for dignity and self-determination under occupation. And yet, despite the repression, Palestinians continue to stand guard, not with weapons, but with prayer, presence, and perseverance.