Raising Israeli flags inside Al-Aqsa Mosque: A new chapter in the rapid changes during Ben-Gvir's tenure
On Sunday morning, settlers raised Israeli flags inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque during a raid, representing a new escalation in the ongoing series of violations against the holy site.
A video captures 10 settlers entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They pause at an arcade leading to the Dome of the Rock in the western courtyard, where they display and raise seven Israeli flags inside the mosque. They then sing the Israeli national anthem, all while under the protection of Israeli police and special forces.
The raising of Israeli flags inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque occurs amidst increasing actions by extremist Temple Mount groups. They are attempting to enforce these measures during incursions, with support from Israeli police and an easing of previous restrictions on such activities.
Temple Mount groups have also urged settlers to large-scale incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday and to wave Israeli flags inside, viewing this as part of what they call the "battle for sovereignty" over the site.
In mid-May, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir raised the Israeli flag inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque during his storming of its courtyards on what is called “Jerusalem Day," and made statements about Israeli “sovereignty” in the area. Following this event, extremist “Temple” groups believed that Ben-Gvir had announced a “change in official policy” regarding raising Israeli flags within the mosque. They noted that this shift was becoming evident on the ground, evidenced by the cancellation of previous expulsion orders against settlers who displayed flags inside the mosque.
A statement from one of the Temple Mount groups regarded the cancellation of the decision to expel a settler who had previously raised the Israeli flag inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a concrete example of what it called a "policy shift." Previously, Israeli police had been detaining settlers for different durations when they raised flags inside the mosque.
Data from the Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem indicates that the act of raising Israeli flags inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque is part of a broader and escalating trend. Over recent years, this trend has involved various changes and measures, which have intensified during the tenure of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. He has openly supported the expansion of Jewish rituals and practices within the mosque's area. This support has been accompanied by an easing of restrictions that were previously in place on these practices.
Among the most prominent of these changes:
- In August 2024: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced his support for the establishment of a synagogue inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Since then, the eastern area of the Mosque has become a site where Jewish prayers are performed almost daily.
- In June 2025, prompted by Ben-Gvir, Jewish prayers were loudly performed collectively across the Al-Aqsa Mosque, marking an unprecedented scene in its courtyards.
- In January 2026, Israeli authorities allowed the entry and distribution of written Jewish religious texts within the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first time. These included prayers and teachings related to the rituals performed by settlers during incursions, with approval from Ben-Gvir.
- In April 2026, extremist groups controlling the Temple Mount announced they would release expanded versions of these texts for use within the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This development is seen as an escalation of the organized rituals carried out during their incursions.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, daily monitoring revealed an increase in Jewish religious activities within the Al-Aqsa Mosque. These included collective prayers, prostrations, dance and singing circles, and the chanting of religious slogans. The display of Israeli flags inside the mosque is viewed as the latest development in this escalating trend of changes in the mosque's courtyards, amid persistent calls from "Temple" groups demanding Israeli "sovereignty" over the site.
