The Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem Affairs Department has strongly condemned the escalating violations by Israeli occupation forces and settlers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. On Sunday, September 20, 2026, approximately 570 Israeli settlers stormed the mosque's courtyards, performing Talmudic rituals and prayers, coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Large numbers of settlers gathered near the Maghrabi Gate in the morning, preparing to breach the mosque.
The Jerusalem Affairs Department stated that the performance of Talmudic rituals and prayers inside the mosque's courtyards, under the protection of Israeli forces, represents a direct challenge to the historical and legal status quo of the mosque. This move is seen as an attempt to alter the mosque's nature and religious function, potentially paving the way for broader projects aimed at imposing gradual control over the mosque and undermining its Islamic identity.
The simultaneous participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, late at night, highlights the growing intersection between official political actions and extreme religious practices in Jerusalem. This development underscores that the events unfolding around Al-Aqsa Mosque are no longer isolated incidents, but rather a rapidly evolving, organized political strategy to impose new realities in the city and its holy sites.
The Jerusalem Affairs Department warned that the gravity of these developments lies not only in the number of intruders but also in the trajectory of these actions, which could lead to the reconfiguration of Jerusalem's religious and political landscape. This, in turn, may open the door to the temporal and spatial division of the mosque, posing a threat to security and stability in the entire region.
The department urged the international community and influential countries to assume their responsibilities and take concrete steps to halt these violations, protecting Al-Aqsa Mosque and its status. They also called for preventing the imposition of unilateral facts on occupied Jerusalem.
According to the Palestinian News Agency "Wafa", the Jerusalem Affairs Department emphasized that these repeated intrusions, backed by Israeli forces, undermine the chances of preserving the status quo in holy sites. The department's statement came in response to the ongoing Israeli aggression and crimes in the West Bank.
The condemnation by the Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem Affairs Department reflects growing concerns over the escalating tensions and violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation and its repercussions on regional security and stability.
Key points
- Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, performing Talmudic rituals and prayers under the protection of Israeli forces.
- Palestinian Authority condemns Israeli violations, warning of potential reconfiguration of Jerusalem's religious and political landscape.
- International community urged to take concrete steps to halt Israeli violations and protect Al-Aqsa Mosque.
