Dozens of Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on fifth day of Ramadan under police protection

2026-02-22 - 21:32

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, the fifth day of Ramadan, Palestinian media reported. Under Israeli police protection, the settlers entered the flashpoint site and performed Talmudic and provocative rituals in the courtyards, according to the official news agency Wafa. Systematic Incursions Wafa stated the settler incursion is part of "repeated Israeli measures to make demographic changes at the mosque and East Jerusalem." Palestinian worshippers frequently face harassment during such raids, including physical assaults and access restrictions. Israeli police first permitted settler entries into the compound in 2003, despite repeated calls from the Islamic Waqf Department to halt them. Ramadan Tensions Ramadan began Wednesday in several Arab and Muslim countries, including Palestine. Each year, Israel imposes heightened security measures in occupied East Jerusalem, tightly restricting Palestinian access to Al-Aqsa. The mosque is Islam's third-holiest site; Jews refer to the area as Temple Mount, claiming it housed two ancient Jewish temples. Political Context Palestinians view occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, as the capital of their future state. Israel considers Jerusalem—including both eastern and western sectors—its capital. The ongoing settler incursions and access restrictions during Ramadan fuel tensions in the already volatile holy site.