Gaza Herald – The Jerusalem Governorate reported that 11,409 settlers invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the recent Jewish holiday season. This figure encompasses invasions from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur and the initial days of Sukkot, marking a significant escalation in frequency and intensity.
According to the governorate’s data released on Friday, 593 settlers entered the site on September 13 for Rosh Hashanah. The mosque remained closed on September 12 due to the Sabbath, despite demands from settler groups to open it. On Yom Kippur, September 20 and 21 saw 1,678 invaders, with 992 entering on the first day and 686 on the second.
The most intense surge occurred during Sukkot. From September 27 to October 1, 9,138 settlers invaded over five days. Daily counts included 1,500 on September 27, 1,792 on September 28, 1,462 on September 29, 2,474 on September 30, and 1,910 on October 1. The total reached 11,409 by the end of the recorded period.
These invasions were accompanied by overt religious practices involving Israeli ministers, rabbis, and political officials. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Identity Party leader Moshe Feiglin, and Rabbi Yehuda Glick participated in rituals inside the compound. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu performed ceremonies at the Western Wall.
Inside the mosque, settlers engaged in public prayers, prostration, singing, dancing, and shofar blowing. They carried prayer books and wore clothing featuring symbols related to the alleged Temple. These activities extended beyond the eastern area to terraces and shrubbed zones near the Rahma Gate, where groups established themselves as if in an unofficial synagogue.
The governorate documented the introduction of ritual items, including etrogs, palm fronds, myrtle branches, willow twigs, tefillin boxes, and shofars. The shofar was blown thirty times during the Rosh Hashanah invasion alone.
Simultaneously, authorities imposed strict restrictions on Muslim worshippers. Some were barred from returning until 3:30 PM after morning prayers. Waqf staff and worshippers were excluded from courtyards during invasions. Dozens were expelled, and approximately 900 expulsion orders have been issued since the start of 2026.
Occupation forces deployed barriers and checkpoints around the Old City gates. Roads leading to the mosque and Western Wall were closed to secure settler access. Commercial establishments were shut down to facilitate these rituals. Large gatherings occurred at the Chain Gate, Qattanin Gate, Hitta Gate, and Rahma Gate.
Journalists and activists were denied entry to document violations, limiting independent verification. The governorate condemned these actions as serious escalations targeting the Islamic identity and legal status of Al-Aqsa, violating international law and International Court of Justice rulings regarding East Jerusalem.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
