Israeli Settlers Raid al-Aqsa 26 Times, Bar Call to Prayer at Ibrahimi Mosque 92 Times in September
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs says that in September, Israeli forces escalated their assaults on Islamic and Christian holy sites, with a particular focus on al-Aqsa and Ibrahimi mosques. The report records a significant rise in settler incursions into al-Aqsa and repeated bans on the call to prayer (adhan) at the Ibrahimi Mosque.
According to the report, the 26 raids on al-Aqsa coincided with Jewish festivals. These incursions included participation by rabbis, children, and young men, protected by heavy security from occupation forces. The report states that settlers also held Talmudic rituals in the plaza adjacent to the Western Wall, while Israeli forces tightened security at al-Aqsa’s gates.
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Settler groups associated with the “temple movement” claimed that 58,310 Israelis entered the al-Aqsa compound over the past Jewish year—14 percent more than the preceding year and five times the rate of a decade ago.
In al-Khalil, the report says Israeli forces prevented the adhan at the Ibrahimi Mosque 92 times during September. It also documents provocative incursions into the mosque’s interior and the installation of Israeli flags inside its premises.
The occupiers reportedly seized control of the mosque’s courtyard and facilitated settler presence to perform religious ceremonies inside. The ministry characterizes this as the most severe operation against the mosque since Israel’s occupation in 1967.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied al-Quds, is Islam’s third holiest site. According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was transported during his Night Journey from Mecca to al-Aqsa, and then ascended to heaven from there. The term “al-Aqsa” is used both to refer to the entire sacred precinct and to the congregational mosque (the Qibli Mosque) within it.
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The compound spans some 14 hectares, with gardens, fountains, domes, and prayer halls. Its prayer hall accommodates about 5,000 worshippers, while its courtyards and grounds can host many more during peak times. Historically, it has faced damage from earthquakes and conflicts, and has been rebuilt and renovated under successive Muslim dynasties.
Since the Israeli regime occupied the city in 1967, it has retained security control over al-Aqsa, while day-to-day religious administration is overseen by the Waqf under Jordanian custodianship. Non-Muslim prayer is officially banned inside the sanctuary under the status quo arrangement; however, Israeli occupation has openly allowed its settlers to move against the ban in recent years.
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