Over the past year, Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem has witnessed a sharp surge in incursions, with at least 58,310 Israeli settlers entering the sacred compound. This marks a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The ministry's report highlights a growing pattern of violations targeting one of Islam's most revered sites.

Between October 2, 2024, and September 22, 2025, the number of settler visits rose significantly, particularly during Jewish holidays. Recent weeks saw hundreds of settlers entering Al-Aqsa Mosque to observe events such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the week-long Sukkot festival, which began on October 6. These visits, often highly publicized, have sparked deep concern among Muslim communities.

The ministry revealed that Israeli police routinely protect these incursions, sometimes accompanied by government officials and ministers. In September alone, settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa compound 26 times, raising questions about the role of security forces in facilitating access to a contested religious site.

Meanwhile, in Hebron's Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank, Israeli forces reportedly disrupted the call to prayer 92 times during September. These actions are viewed as attempts to impose temporal and spatial restrictions on worshippers, further intensifying tensions in the region and challenging the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.

The Ministry of Awqaf emphasized that performing Jewish rituals inside Al-Aqsa Mosque not only provokes the emotions of Muslims but also threatens the historical and religious identity of Jerusalem. Such practices are increasingly seen as efforts to reshape the cultural and spiritual landscape of these sacred spaces.

In response, the ministry has called on the international community to take urgent action to halt these violations. Protecting the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and other Islamic sites is essential to preserving religious freedom and preventing further escalation of tensions in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

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