Early on Sunday, groups of Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate, escorted by heavily armed police. Their presence, described by local observers as intrusive and coordinated, included organised tours across the courtyards and ritual practices carried out in the eastern section of the site.

During the incursion, the settlers were briefed on narratives linked to the claimed “Temple”, while at the same time Palestinians attempting to enter the compound faced intensified restrictions. Worshippers and Jerusalem residents reported that police withheld identity cards at the outer gates, limiting access and creating delays aimed at reducing Palestinian presence inside the mosque.

Jerusalem-based community groups continue to call on residents of the city, as well as Palestinians from the occupied interior, to remain present at Al-Aqsa and counter what they see as escalating efforts to establish new realities on the ground. For months, the mosque has seen repeated incursions by settlers under police protection, actions widely viewed as attempts to undermine the site’s long-standing historical and legal status.