65,000 intruders in One Year… 2025 witnessed new realities imposed on Al-Aqsa Mosque
In 2025, there was an unprecedented number of extremist intruders into Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Islamic Endowment Department reported that intruders during the year totaled 65,364 extremists, surpassing 2024 by over 10,000. This significant increase indicates a dangerous escalation, reflecting the rapid growth of organized incursions and efforts to establish new realities within the mosque.
This sharp rise indicates increasing official backing and strong protection by occupation authorities for the intruders, along with ongoing violations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque's sanctity and systematic efforts to change the existing legal and historical conditions.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem emphasized that the risk of 2025 is not just about the numbers, but also about the severity and extent of the unprecedented violations observed at the mosque.
Official incursions and public incitement
In 2025, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security in the occupation government, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque six times on the following specific dates:
April 2, May 26, June 11, August 3, October 8, and October 14.
In June 2025, Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and publicly called for settlers to be permitted to pray throughout the mosque without limitations. This led to a visible increase in public prayers and rituals.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center reported that Ben-Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound 13 times since becoming minister: three times in 2023, four in 2024, and six in 2025.
The center also pointed out that on the anniversary of the so-called "Destruction of the Temple" in August 2024, Ben-Gvir announced plans to set up a Jewish synagogue within the Al-Aqsa Mosque. He emphasized what he called "the right of Jews to pray inside" and dismissed any restrictions. Since then, prayers by settlers have increased, becoming more public and collective.
Dangerous precedents and religious rituals inside Al-Aqsa – 2025
May 12, 2025 – A Dangerous Precedent:
An extremist settler entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound with a young goat for animal sacrifice and conducted religious rituals, such as prayer and prostration, in the courtyards during the so-called "Second Passover." This marks the first such incident since the mosque's occupation in 1967.
The settler was among a group of about nine settlers trying to enter through the Al-Ghawanmeh Gate. A Jerusalemite confronted them before employees of the Endowment Department and worshippers intervened to escort the settler out of the mosque.
June 2, 2025:
Four extremist settlers stormed the Dome of the Rock plaza from the northern side, carrying a bag containing a bottle of wine, fresh bread, and a piece of cloth stained with blood. One of them was wearing priestly sacrificial garb.
The settlers performed rituals that included sprinkling water and wine, believed to be aimed at "sanctifying the hands and feet" during the Shavuot holiday.
They then moved on to the Dome of the Chain, asserting it as the supposed 'altar' site, while their group sang, clapped, and chanted religious slogans.
August: Al-Aqsa Turned into a Public Ritual Site
In August, there was a notable increase in activities, including raising Israeli flags in the mosque courtyards, reading the "Lamentations," bringing in ritual items such as tefillin and tallit, blowing the shofar (ram's horn), and conducting group prayers with dancing, singing, and clapping.
This changed the entire Al-Aqsa Mosque compound into a public space for religious ceremonies at the start of the Hebrew month.
November 18, 2025
Eight settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound via the Lions' Gate, carrying animal sacrifices, including a small goat and three doves in a cardboard bag. One individual was wearing Jewish prayer shawls (tefillin).
November 27, 2025 – A New Precedent:
Israeli police permitted three individuals identifying themselves as "Levis" to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and sing religious hymns in the courtyards, an action seen as unprecedented.
Candles were lit three times during Hanukkah: twice in the eastern area and once in the western portico of the mosque.
Months with the highest number of incursions
The Information Center reported that in 2025, three months recorded the highest number of incursions: October with 10,822, April with 10,090, and August with 8,366. This pattern clearly shows a connection between the rise in incursions and the increase in official incitement.
Restrictions on Muslim worshippers
Settlers storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque daily via the Dung Gate, except on Fridays, Saturdays, and Islamic holidays. Since 1967, the keys to this gate have been under the control of the occupation authorities following their occupation of eastern Jerusalem in 1967.
On Fridays, Israeli occupation authorities persist in enforcing strict restrictions on Muslim worshippers, such as arbitrary bans, detentions at the gates, and denying hundreds the right to pray inside the mosque or on its steps. This clearly violates freedom of worship.
Israeli special forces were also among the worshippers during the Friday sermon and prayer. They were stationed on the roof of the Dome of the Rock, nearby, and maintained a permanent presence near the police station inside the mosque compound.
Since October 2023, these scenes have repeatedly occurred every Friday, disregarding the sanctity of the site and prayer, including the presence of female worshippers. Israeli forces are stationed in the southern arcades of Al-Aqsa Mosque, facing the Al-Qibli and Al-Marwani prayer halls, and on the roof of the Dome of the Rock at the northern courtyard entrance near the police station.
