On Tuesday morning, waves of Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the heavy protection of Israeli police. Entering through the Moroccan Gate, the settlers roamed the sacred grounds in what Palestinians view as a deliberate provocation. Many performed Talmudic rituals in the eastern part of the compound, heightening tensions at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the world.

As the settlers moved freely within the mosque’s enclosure, Palestinian worshippers were met with restrictions and humiliation. Israeli forces confiscated ID cards and prevented access to dozens trying to pray, turning what should be a place of peace into a zone of control and exclusion. These measures are not new, but part of a growing pattern aimed at curbing Palestinian presence at the holy site.

Palestinian and Jerusalemite groups have repeatedly called for mass mobilisation and steadfastness at Al-Aqsa. Religious leaders continue to stress that simply attending the mosque is now an act of resistance, vital to preserving its Palestinian and Islamic identity. Their calls have grown louder amid increased incursions and closures in recent weeks.

Al-Aqsa is facing what many describe as a systematic campaign to alter its historical and religious status. Almost daily, settlers and police enter the compound—except on Fridays and Saturdays, attempting to impose a new reality. For Palestinians, this is not only about a mosque; it is about erasure, sovereignty, and the struggle for their rightful place in their own city.