August 2025 in the city of Jerusalem
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center – Jerusalem issued its monthly report for August 2025, documenting the continuation of Israeli violations in the city of Jerusalem, most notably the serious incursions and attacks taking place at Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with daily arrests of Jerusalemites, and the escalation of demolitions, displacement, and deportation orders.
Al-Aqsa Mosque: Incursions and public rituals
During August, Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed serious and organized violations by the occupation forces and extremist "Temple Mount" groups. These incursions occurred daily—except Fridays and Saturdays—during two periods: morning (7:00–11:30 a.m.) and afternoon (1:30–3:00 p.m.), through the Dung Gate, which has been under control by the occupation authorities since the occupation of Jerusalem.
The number of settlers storming Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month exceeded 8,600. During these incursions, settlers performed public religious rituals, including prayers, collective prostration, singing, dancing, and clapping. They also brought in sacred prayer tools and performed individual and collective prayers in various courtyards of the mosque.
On August 3, 2025, the Israeli occupation transformed Al-Aqsa Mosque into an arena for serious violations on the occasion of the so-called "Destruction of the Temple." 3,969 settlers, including ministers and members of the Knesset, stormed the mosque in two periods. They performed public and collective prayers and religious rituals in the eastern, southern, and western courtyards. This included raising Israeli flags and reading the "Scroll of Lamentations," in addition to bringing in ritual items such as tefillin and tallit. The presence of more than 900 settlers at one time has been documented inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, amid the complete exclusion of Palestinian worshippers and the tightening of the siege on the Old City.
On August 24-25, 2025, the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound was transformed into a public square for religious rituals, marking the beginning of the Jewish month. These rituals included group prayers, dancing, singing, clapping, the blowing of the shofar, and the introduction of the tefillin. Marriage and coming-of-age blessing rituals were also performed inside Al-Aqsa, with the participation of senior rabbis.
The violations extended to the mosque's surroundings, with the "monthly gate march," which included the raising of flags and the performance of prayers at the gates of Al-Aqsa. An unprecedented event was also held at the Lions Gate, which included a performance by the "Leviticus Guard Choir," dressed as "alleged temple priests," chanting public hymns in front of one of the mosque's most prominent entrances.
Al-Aqsa also witnessed special prayers to commemorate fallen soldiers, as well as wedding, coming-of-age, and marriage ceremony celebrations during August.
Persecution of religious figures
The occupation authorities continued to target Palestinian religious figures in Jerusalem through arrests and deportations, as part of an ongoing policy of restricting religious figures and interfering in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In August, the occupation authorities handed the Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, a decision banning him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for six months (July 25, 2025 – January 25, 2026), following his last sermon on July 25. The decision was alleged to have "posed a danger to the public." Sheikh Hussein was arrested immediately after Friday prayers that same day and taken to a detention center near the Al-Buraq Wall. He was then released on the condition that he be temporarily banned from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque until the extended deportation order is issued.
The occupation forces also arrested Sheikh Iyad al-Abbasi, the Chief Justice, after he delivered a sermon at Al-Aqsa Mosque prior to the Friday sermon.
Over the past few months, Al-Aqsa Mosque preachers have been subjected to repeated arrests and summonses, as well as constant threats and warnings. Among those were the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, Sheikh Mohammad Sarandah, and Sheikh Mohammad Salim Mohammad Ali.
Settlement plans in Sheikh Jarrah and Umm Tuba
Jerusalemite families in Sheikh Jarrah and Sur Baher face increasing risks of eviction as part of extensive settlement projects targeting entire neighborhoods for the benefit of settlers.
In Sheikh Jarrah, the case of the Al-Sa'ou family, which comprises 14 members, has come to the fore. The family was surprised by an amendment to an old plan to demolish their property and build a new six-story building in its place for the benefit of settlers, despite a previous decision to protect them from eviction.
In the village of Umm Tuba, the Abu Teir family faces forced displacement as part of a settlement plan targeting a 64-dunom plot of land, where more than 200 people live, distributed across 17 buildings containing 35 apartments, all of which were officially constructed. The case dates back to May 2023, when the land was registered in the Israeli Land Registry in the name of the "Israel Land Administration" and the "Jewish National Fund" without the residents' knowledge. In May 2024, the residents received eviction notices demanding they hand over the land and homes within one month. The occupation authorities then returned on June 11, 2025, and delivered new notices. This prompted the residents to appeal to the Supreme Court, which referred the case to the District Court, where the legal battle continues.
On the ground, the Israel Land Fund escalated its actions by erecting signs on Umm Tuba lands stating that they are "state lands" and preventing residents from entering or using them.
Settler attacks
Settler attacks continued in Jerusalem during August. The most notable incident occurred when an armed settler stormed a public park in the village of Issawiya while children were present, sparking fear and panic among the residents. Settlers also stormed the Bab al-Rahma Cemetery, adjacent to the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, smashing tombstones and destroying restoration materials. The attacks also included physical assaults, verbal abuse, and attacks on Jerusalemites and their property.
Demolitions and displacement
The policy of demolition continued in Jerusalem during August, under the pretext of "building without a permit."
The Center documented 23 demolitions and closures of residential, commercial, and agricultural facilities. The methods of demolition included:
Self-demolition/forced demolition, in which families were forced to demolish their homes to avoid heavy fines, and direct demolition carried out by Israeli municipality crews accompanied by the forces.
The occupation authorities also continued to issue demolition orders, stop-work notices, and summonses to follow up with the municipality, as part of a systematic policy of restrictions.
Suppression of union work: Preventing Doctors' Syndicate Elections
During August, Israeli occupation forces, accompanied by intelligence officers, raided the headquarters of the Professional Associations Complex in Beit Hanina, preventing the Doctors' Syndicate elections before they began. They arrested Dr. Samir Mtour and suspended an order issued by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prohibiting the elections, based on the 1994 "Restrictions on Activities" Law.
Arrests and persecution of prisoners and freed prisoners
The occupation authorities continued their daily arrest campaigns in Jerusalem, targeting children, youth, women, and the elderly, as well as hundreds of young men with West Bank ID cards, under the pretext of "illegal residency."
They also continued to raid the homes of freed prisoners, searching and vandalizing their contents, and confiscating money, jewelry, and vehicles, based on a decision by the Israeli Defense Minister to withhold funds received by prisoners from the Palestinian Authority, claiming they "encourage attacks." The occupation forces continued to summon prisoners immediately upon their release, imposing restrictions including banning gatherings, prohibiting the raising of banners and flags, and issuing direct threats to them and their family members.
The occupation authorities also continued to issue deportation orders against Jerusalemite figures. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem documented 20 orders, including deportation from Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Old City of Jerusalem, and a ban on entering the West Bank.
In August, the ban on entering the West Bank was renewed for the Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, and Shadi Mtour, Secretary of the Fatah Movement in Jerusalem. Governor Adnan Ghaith has been persecuted since assuming his duties in 2018 and has been under house arrest in Silwan since August 2022, following an indictment filed against him for "violating the ban on entering the West Bank." He is also prohibited from traveling or participating in any events in Jerusalem.
