About 700 Israelis, including former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on the fifth day of Sukkot under Israeli police protection, Palestinian officials said. Local authorities say Israeli restrictions continued to limit Palestinian Muslim access while Israelis performed rituals and sang, actions described as breaching the historic status quo. Roads near Lions' Gate and the route toward Silwan were closed to ease access to the Western Wall. Officials reported similar visits the previous day, when 966 Israelis entered via the Moroccan Gate.
Hundreds Enter Al-Aqsa During Sukkot; Palestinian Access Restricted, Officials Say
Israeli settlers pray near the Bab al-Qattanin (Cotton Merchants Gate) of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during Sukkot, in occupied East Jerusalem, September 28, 2026 [AFP]
Hundreds of Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on the fifth day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot, Palestinian and Jerusalem officials reported.
Palestine's Wafa news agency, citing the Jerusalem governorate, said that while Israelis performed Jewish religious rituals and sang inside the compound on Wednesday — actions described by local authorities as violating the long-standing status quo — Israeli restrictions on the entry of Palestinian Muslims remained in force.
The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem reported that roughly 700 Israelis, including former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, entered the compound under the protection of Israeli police. The Waqf and other Palestinian authorities have repeatedly said such visits breach the historic arrangement that recognizes the site as a Muslim place of worship administered by the Waqf.
Access Measures and Recent Pattern
The Jerusalem governorate said Israeli authorities closed the road leading to the Lions' Gate area and blocked the entrance to al-Turba Road toward the Silwan neighborhood to facilitate access to the Western Wall for Israeli visitors. Incursions into the compound have been more frequent since the start of the Jewish holidays earlier this month.
On the previous day, officials reported that 966 Israelis entered the compound via the Moroccan Gate accompanied by Israeli police, performing Talmudic rituals and singing in the mosque courtyards.
Holiday Timeline
The holiday period began with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) on September 12–13, followed by Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) on September 21–22. Sukkot runs from September 26 to October 2 and is followed by Simchat Torah on October 3, which marks the completion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings.
Context: The site is known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The historic status quo grants the Waqf administrative authority over the compound while allowing limited non-Muslim visitation under specific rules.
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