Reports from Jerusalem indicate that a group of settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque through Lions’ Gate carrying a goat, pigeons, and ritual objects, in what Palestinian officials describe as part of a structured campaign to impose new political and religious realities at the holy site. Far from an isolated provocation, the incident is seen as another step in an organised effort to erode the sanctuary’s historic and legal status and to advance a long-term strategy of turning Al-Aqsa into a space governed by Israeli authority. Local leaders warn that such acts constitute grave violations of international norms and an assault on a sacred site revered by millions.

Officials emphasise that Al-Aqsa, in its entirety, remains a Muslim place of worship and that any attempt to impose sovereignty over it is both unlawful and rejected. They argue that these incursions do not occur in a vacuum but follow consistent political encouragement from senior Israeli officials who promote a vision of religious transformation at the compound. Their rhetoric, coupled with increased settler activity, is interpreted as state-backed support for efforts to normalise rituals drawn from Zionist extremist traditions that view Al-Aqsa as the site of an envisioned future Temple.

In recent months, several attempts to smuggle sacrificial items into the compound have been thwarted, yet the persistence of these actions has heightened concerns about a coordinated strategy. Activist groups linked to Temple movements have been publicly training individuals in ritual practices, producing materials, garments, and architectural models that depict their ambitions. These initiatives, combined with financial incentives offered to participants, are seen as attempts to familiarise the public with the idea of replacing Al-Aqsa’s historical identity with a new, imposed narrative.

Officials in Jerusalem warn that such activities threaten to destabilise the city further and could ignite wider unrest, urging the international community to act before the situation reaches an irreversible point. They argue that silence in the face of these escalating provocations only emboldens extremist groups and places the region’s fragile stability at even greater risk.