Al-Aqsa incursions escalate on the eve of Yom Kippur
992 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday under occupation protection, coinciding with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's incursion into the mosque and his performance of religious rituals in the eastern area, on the eve of the Hebrew Yom Kippur. Observers warned that the escalation could pave the way for broader attacks during the Sukkot holiday.
On Sunday, the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed the storming of 992 settlers under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, coinciding with the incursion of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir into the mosque and his performance of religious rituals in its eastern area, on the eve of the Hebrew 'Yom Kippur'. The Jerusalem Governorate documented the collective performance of the 'Kol Nidre' prayer in the northern portico of the mosque, with the participation of a rabbi leading the intruders, before its usual time associated with sunset and the start of the Yom Kippur fast. The Sunday incursions were preceded, on Saturday evening, by the presence of occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a number of his ministers, and thousands of settlers at the Western Wall area, amidst tight security measures. Researcher Ali Ibrahim warned of a potential increase in the number of intruders in the coming days, expecting it to exceed last year's tally of 1,015 settlers on the eve of Yom Kippur 2025. He considered the greatest danger to be the approaching Sukkot holiday, which represents the peak of the holiday season in terms of crowds of intruders. Professor of Jerusalem Studies Abdullah Maarouf described the incursions as a prelude to exploiting the occasion to consolidate a Jewish religious presence inside the mosque.