Occupation holidays follow one another at Al-Aqsa.. Fears of imposing rituals and entrenching temporal division
The Al-Aqsa Mosque enters a long season of Jewish holidays starting September 12, amid warnings that Temple groups will exploit the period to intensify incursions and impose biblical rituals, aiming to change the reality of the mosque and its administration. The season extends until October 3, including the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Israeli authorities have issued about 800 removal orders from Al-Aqsa since the beginning of 2026.
The blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, starting September 12, enters a long season of Jewish holidays lasting until early October, amid warnings that Temple groups will exploit this period to intensify incursions and impose biblical rituals, aiming to bring about changes in the reality of the mosque and its administration mechanisms. The season begins with the Jewish New Year, followed by the Days of Awe, then Yom Kippur and Sukkot, before concluding with Simchat Torah on October 3. These occasions come amid escalating Israeli measures against worshippers and those performing i'tikaf, as Israeli authorities have issued about 800 removal orders from Al-Aqsa since the beginning of 2026. Fears are not limited to the rising number of incursions but include attempts to establish Jewish rituals inside the mosque, expand incursion times, open Al-Aqsa to settlers on Saturdays, and close it to Muslims on some occasions. According to an information paper, among the scenarios proposed are re-erecting a temporary canopy or tent inside the mosque to serve the incursionists, and bringing in Torah scrolls and plant offerings associated with Sukkot. The paper warns that the most dangerous path may go beyond imposing rituals to influencing the administration of the mosque itself, by weakening the role of the Islamic Waqf Department and the guards of Al-Aqsa, and strengthening the occupation police's control over the details of life inside it. The article points to a long Palestinian memory with seasons of Jewish holidays, which coincided with pivotal events such as the Al-Aqsa massacre in 1990, the Tunnel Uprising in 1996, the Al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, the Jerusalem Uprising in 2015, and the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023. According to the Jerusalem Governorate, 40,661 settlers stormed the mosque since the beginning of the year until the end of August. Researcher specializing in Jerusalem affairs Ziad Abuhaisi emphasizes the importance of strengthening the presence of Al-Aqsa Mosque in public awareness and expanding the scope of media coverage.