Israeli Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Compound During Sukkot as Palestinian Access Restricted

Hundreds of Israeli settlers, including a former member of parliament, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking another provocative episode during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, according to Palestinian officials. The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department reported that approximately 700 Israelis forced their way into the holy site under heavy police protection, with former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin among those taking part in the incursion.

The visitors performed Jewish religious rituals and sang songs within the compound's courtyards, actions that directly contravene the longstanding status quo governing the site, according to Wafa news agency, which cited the Jerusalem governorate. The status quo arrangement, maintained for decades under international oversight, designates the Waqf department as the sole administrator of the compound—known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount—and reserves it as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.

The incursion took place on the fifth day of Sukkot, a week-long Jewish holiday that began on September 26 and concludes on October 2. Israeli authorities simultaneously maintained restrictions on Palestinian Muslim entry to the site, preventing worshippers from accessing their holy place while facilitating settler visits, the Jerusalem governorate confirmed. This dual approach—easing access for Israelis while barring Palestinians—has become a recurring pattern during Jewish holiday periods in recent years.

In addition to the compound incursion, Israeli authorities closed several roads in the surrounding area. The route leading to the Lions' Gate area was shut down, along with the entrance to al-Turba Road, which connects to the town of Silwan. Palestinian officials said these closures were implemented to smooth the path for Israelis heading to the Western Wall, which sits adjacent to the Al-Aqsa compound and is considered the holiest site where Jews are permitted to pray.

The storming of Al-Aqsa has become a near-daily occurrence since the Jewish high holidays began earlier this month. On Tuesday alone, 966 Israelis entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate, accompanied by Israeli police forces. Witnesses reported that the group performed Talmudic rituals and sang collectively in the mosque's courtyards, further escalating tensions in the already volatile area. The scale of these incursions has drawn sharp condemnation from Palestinian religious authorities and political leaders.

The holiday season commenced with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, observed on September 12 and 13. This was followed by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, on September 21 and 22—the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Sukkot, a pilgrimage festival commemorating the Israelites' wandering in the desert, began on September 26. The season will conclude with Simchat Torah on October 3, which marks the completion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle.

The timing of these incursions is particularly sensitive, as Jewish holidays often coincide with heightened tensions around the Al-Aqsa compound. The site holds profound religious significance for both Muslims and Jews, and any perceived change to its status quo has historically triggered widespread unrest. Palestinian leaders have consistently warned that such visits, particularly when accompanied by religious rituals, constitute a deliberate attempt to alter the site's Islamic character and undermine Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem.

The presence of Moshe Feiglin among the group of settlers is notable given his long history of advocating for Jewish prayer rights at the compound. A former member of the Knesset, Feiglin has been a prominent figure in the movement seeking to change the status quo at Al-Aqsa. His participation in Wednesday's incursion underscores the increasingly brazen nature of these visits, which critics argue are designed to normalize Jewish worship at the site and gradually erode the Islamic waqf's authority.

International law considers East Jerusalem, including the Old City and its holy sites, to be occupied territory. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from altering the character of occupied territory or transferring its own population into it. Successive United Nations resolutions have reaffirmed the applicability of this framework to East Jerusalem, though Israel has consistently rejected these interpretations and asserted its sovereignty over the entire city since annexing it in 1980—a move not recognized by the international community.

The Al-Aqsa compound is the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. It is also the holiest site in Judaism, where the First and Second Temples are believed to have stood. The Western Wall, a retaining wall of the ancient Temple Mount, is the closest point where Jews are permitted to pray. The delicate arrangement that governs access and worship at the compound has been a flashpoint for decades, and any perceived deviation from it has the potential to ignite wider conflict.

Palestinian officials have repeatedly called on the international community to intervene and pressure Israel to halt these incursions. They argue that the silence of the international community emboldens Israeli authorities and settler groups to continue their violations. The Jerusalem governorate's documentation of these daily raids serves as evidence of what Palestinian leaders describe as a systematic campaign to Judaize the holy site and erase its Islamic heritage.

For ordinary Palestinians, the restrictions on entry represent a painful denial of their right to worship at one of their most sacred places. Many have spoken of the humiliation of being turned away from the compound while watching settlers enter freely. These restrictions have a particularly severe impact during religious holidays, when Muslims wish to pray at Al-Aqsa and participate in communal worship. The emotional and spiritual toll of these exclusionary policies deepens resentment and fuels anger across the Palestinian territories.

The continued incursions also risk triggering broader regional escalation. Al-Aqsa has historically served as a rallying cry for Palestinians and Muslims worldwide, with previous escalations at the site sparking wider confrontations. The current situation, characterized by repeated settler raids and Palestinian access restrictions, bears a troubling resemblance to periods of heightened violence in recent years. Regional powers and international observers are watching closely, aware that the compound's status remains one of the most combustible issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As the holiday season continues through Simchat Torah, further incursions are expected. Palestinian authorities and religious leaders have called for vigilance and peaceful protest, while urging worshippers to remain steadfast in their presence at the site whenever possible. The coming days will test whether the fragile status quo can be maintained or whether the escalating pattern of settler incursions will push the situation toward a more dangerous confrontation. The international community's response, or lack thereof, will play a significant role in shaping what unfolds next.