Ben Gvir leads 1,300 Israelis in Al-Aqsa Mosque incursion

Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of ultra-nationalists in a raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, the second day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. 

Under the protection of heavily armed forces, the minister of national security took part in religious rituals alongside many others.

The raid - along with the performance of prayers in the mosque’s courtyards - violates the long-standing status quo.

This set of rules, recognised internationally and upheld by world powers, designates Al-Aqsa Mosque as an exclusively Islamic site, where only Muslims are permitted to worship.

In a post on his X account, Ben Gvir claimed that Israelis are "winning on the Temple Mount" - the Jewish term for the raised plateau on which Al-Aqsa Mosque stands.

“We are the owners of the house on the Temple Mount. I only pray that our Prime Minister will allow a full victory in Gaza as well - to destroy Hamas, God willing, to return the hostages, and we will achieve an absolute victory,” he added.

According to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, approximately 1,300 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, following the incursion of another 500 settlers on Tuesday.

Ben Gvir is now performing talmudic ritualspic.twitter.com/BUVEuW1TJh https://t.co/socvX2nMkN

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) October 8, 2025

During the settler incursion, Israeli police removed Palestinian worshippers from the complex.

Strict security measures were also imposed around the mosque and its gates, with large reinforcements of police and security forces deployed to secure the settlers' entry.

Exploitation of Jewish holidays

Earlier this month, Israeli monitor the Ir Amim Association warned that Israeli authorities are increasingly asserting control over Al-Aqsa Mosque, threatening instability.

Under the established norms, control of the mosque - including maintenance, security and excavations - remains the sole responsibility of the Islamic Waqf, the body that administers Al-Aqsa.

The Waqf’s authority, which operates under Jordanian custodianship, was formally recognised by Israel in the 1994 peace treaty with Amman.

Monitor warns Israel 'steadily taking control' of Al-Aqsa as violations escalate

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But the report highlights Israel’s growing disregard for Jordan’s role as guardian, particularly in recent months.

The report notes that the government particularly exploits Jewish holidays to increase Jewish presence in the area, while also violating the rights of Muslims at the site.

This includes age restrictions, arbitrary entry denials, the expulsion of Palestinian worshippers and activists, and obstruction of  Waqf restoration and maintenance work.

Incursions into the mosque complex by Israeli forces have become nearly daily, with a marked surge during Jewish and national holidays.

Aviv Tatarsky, a researcher at Ir Amim, told Middle East Eye ahead of Sukkot that thousands of Israelis, accompanied by police, were expected to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, "creating a potential flashpoint".

"Under the guise of religious Jewish connection, Israel is steadily taking control of the holy site," Tatarsky added, warning that the government's decisions and actions threaten the stability of the Old City and country as a whole.