Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led a group of 1,271 settlers in an incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Monday, September 28. The incursion took place on the third day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, with the two ministers performing Talmudic rituals in the eastern part of the site under heavy police protection.
The incursion was the latest in a series of escalating events in the region, with tensions rising over the past few days. On Sunday, September 27, around 1,500 settlers entered the mosque, singing, dancing, and performing collective prayers. The increased presence of Israeli settlers and restrictions on Palestinian worshippers have sparked concerns over the potential for further violence.
The incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque have intensified since the start of the Jewish holidays on September 12-13, which continue until October 3. In response to the rising tensions, Israel has imposed a general closure of the West Bank from September 27 to October 3, including the closure of checkpoints and border crossings.
The Palestinian presidency has condemned the incursions, warning against the "grave escalation" of Israeli actions in Jerusalem and its holy sites. Spokesperson Nabil Abou Rudeineh stated that the continued incursions by Israeli ministers and settlers constitute a "provocative and condemnable" act that violates the historical and legal status quo of the site.
The Egyptian government has also condemned the Israeli escalation in the West Bank and the incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, warning that these actions threaten regional stability. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has similarly denounced the incursions, describing them as a "grave escalation" that undermines the status quo of the holy site.
The situation in the region remains volatile, with Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the extension of the war in Gaza to the West Bank and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority. According to Palestinian officials, over 40,000 settlers have profaned the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the year, while nearly 800 deportation orders have been issued against Palestinian worshippers and local figures.
The international community remains concerned over the rising tensions in the region, with the United Nations calling for restraint and a return to calm. The situation at Al-Aqsa Mosque remains a sensitive and complex issue, with competing claims and interests at play.
Key points
- Israeli ministers Katz and Ben Gvir led an incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque alongside 1,271 settlers on Monday.
- The incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque have intensified since the start of the Jewish holidays on September 12-13.
- The situation in the region remains volatile, with concerns over the potential for further violence and escalation.
