Hundreds of Israelis enter Al-Aqsa compound under police escort on Sukkot

September 30, 2026 at 10:13 PM2 min

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About 700 Israelis, including former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday under Israeli police protection. The entry occurred on the fifth day of Sukkot, with participants performing Jewish rituals and singing in violation of the historical status quo. Israeli authorities also restricted Palestinian Muslim access to the compound and nearby roads.

Key Facts

About 700 Israelis, including former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday under Israeli police protection.
The entry occurred on the fifth day of Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that runs from September 26 to October 2.
On Tuesday, 966 Israelis entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate alongside Israeli police, performing Talmudic rituals and singing in the mosque's courtyards.
Israeli authorities closed the road leading to the Lions' Gate area and the entrance to al-Turba Road leading to Silwan to ease Israeli access to the Western Wall.

The Compound Entry

Jerusalem's Islamic Waqf Department reported that about 700 Israelis, including former lawmaker Moshe Feiglin, stormed the compound under the protection of Israeli police. The entry took place on the fifth day of Sukkot, with participants performing Jewish religious rituals and singing in violation of the status quo at the compound. The historical status quo stipulates that the Waqf Department has exclusive responsibility for administering the compound, known as al-Haram al-Sharif by Muslims and the Temple Mount by Jews, as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims.

Access Restrictions

The Jerusalem governorate said Israeli authorities closed the road leading to the Lions' Gate area, as well as the entrance to al-Turba Road leading to the town of Silwan, to ease Israelis' access to the Western Wall. Israeli restrictions on the entry of Palestinian Muslims continued during the Jewish holiday season, according to Palestine's Wafa news agency, citing the Jerusalem governorate.

Holiday Season Pattern

Israelis have stormed the Al-Aqsa compound regularly since the start of the Jewish holidays earlier this month. On Tuesday, 966 Israelis entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate alongside Israeli police, performing Talmudic rituals and singing together in the mosque's courtyards. The holidays began with the Jewish New Year on September 12 and 13, followed by Yom Kippur on the 21st and 22nd, and Sukkot runs from September 26 to October 2, after which Simchat Torah will be celebrated on October 3.