Ben-Gvir Al-Aqsa Provocation
Israeli officials lead thousands of settlers in provocative Al-Aqsa incursion on Tisha B’Av
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Key Points
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Amit Halevi, a Likud Knesset member and ally of Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined the Al-Aqsa incursion; police allowed each entering group to swell to nearly 150 people, with totals reported at over 2,300 entrants.
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Palestinian authorities stated that far-right groups mobilized about 5,000 people to participate, while reports describe Israelis inside the compound performing tefillin, prostration, and prayers.
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On Tisha B’Av, around 1,300 Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa compound, with Israeli forces enforcing tight restrictions around the Old City and limiting Palestinian entry.
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Entrances were via the Mughrabi Gate, which has remained under total Israeli control since 1967; inside, groups conducted what witnesses called 'epic prostration' facing the Dome of the Rock, and engaged in provocative tours with dancing and singing.
More than 3,000 Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Tisha B'Av, one of the largest such incursions on record. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led the crowds inside, according to Middle East Eye.
Israeli police allowed groups of nearly 150 people at a time through the Mughrabi Gate, the only entrance under full Israeli control since 1967. Inside, settlers performed prayers, wore tefillin, and bowed toward the Dome of the Rock — acts Palestinian observers called deeply provocative.
Ben-Gvir Leads Record-Breaking Tisha B'Av Incursion
Middle East Eye reported that Ben-Gvir led over 3,000 settlers into the compound, calling the move a violation of the site's historical and legal status quo. The Islamic Waqf Department, which administers the mosque, said Palestinian groups estimated far-right organizers had mobilized roughly 5,000 people to take part.
Likud Knesset member Amit Halevi, a close ally of Ben-Gvir, also joined the incursion. Groups inside the compound danced, sang, and conducted what witnesses described as 'epic prostration' facing the Dome of the Rock. Israeli police escorted each wave of entrants throughout the courtyards.
Conflicting Numbers, But All Reports Signal a Mass Event
Exact crowd figures varied across outlets. Al Jazeera and Yahoo News reported over 2,300 entrants. Middle East Monitor put the number above 2,500. Middle East Eye cited more than 3,000. The differences likely reflect different counting windows across the day's multiple entry waves.
All accounts agree this was one of the largest single-day incursions of the year. Police let each group grow to nearly 150 people before allowing the next wave through. An earlier morning wave brought around 1,300 settlers before the larger afternoon groups arrived.
Palestinian Worshippers Blocked While Settlers Moved Freely
Israeli forces imposed tight restrictions around Jerusalem's Old City throughout the day. Palestinian access to the compound was sharply limited. Security personnel controlled crowd flow at the gates and maintained a heavy presence inside the courtyards, according to Al Jazeera.
Palestinian authorities condemned the incursions as a breach of the site's protected status. The Waqf Department said Israeli settlers performed Talmudic rituals inside — including wearing tefillin and bowing in prayer — which are banned under longstanding agreements governing the holy site.
Why Tisha B'Av Makes Al-Aqsa a Flashpoint Every Year
Tisha B'Av is a Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the ancient Temples. Many far-right Israelis believe the Third Temple should be built on the same hill where Al-Aqsa now stands. That belief drives annual surges in settler visits to the site, which Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary.
The Mughrabi Gate — the only entrance open to non-Muslims — has been under full Israeli control since 1967. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly used high-profile visits to the compound as a political statement. Critics say his presence signals state backing for efforts to change the site's status quo, something Israel officially denies.
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