Fifth Day of Sukkot at Al-Aqsa: 2,468 Settlers, Longer Incursion Hours, Expanded Prayer Areas, and "Four Species" Rituals
On the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, scenes of public, collective Jewish prayers and rituals at Al-Aqsa Mosque continued to escalate. The most notable development today, however, was the expansion of these rituals beyond their main concentration in the eastern area to other locations, including the northern areas and the western portico, accompanied by singing, chanting, clapping, and collective prayer.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center-Jerusalem reported that 2,468 settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque today: 1,317 during the morning session (6:30 AM to 11:30 AM) and 1,151 during the afternoon session (1:30 PM to 3:20 PM). All entered through the Dung Gate, whose keys have been controlled by the occupation authorities since Jerusalem was occupied.
Recorded on the fifth day of the holiday, this figure follows a gradual rise over the preceding days in the number of settlers entering the site, as well as in prayer activities and rituals. Today, these activities expanded in scope—not only in the number of participants but also in the area of Al-Aqsa occupied by the rituals.
Incursions extended by 20 minutes; "Fast Track" established to admit more people to Al-Aqsa
To allow more settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the afternoon incursion period was extended by about 20 minutes. This enabled groups to enter continuously and allowed more people to enter within the allotted time.
Occupation police also designated a "fast track for intruders,” stretching from the Dung Gate to the Chain Gate, to facilitate the entry of more people during the incursion window. Meanwhile, most intruders followed the full route through the mosque, passing through its arcades and courtyards and performing rituals and prayers at multiple locations along the way.
"The Four Species": From a ritual in the eastern area to a recurring scene across multiple locations
A notable development in today’s events was the public, collective use of the plants associated with the "Four Species" ritual at several locations within Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Although these plants had previously been observed only in the eastern area, footage from today documented them being carried and used along the incursion route and at other locations, showing that these rituals have expanded into the northern and western sections of the site.
Images show one of these plant sets—comprising palm fronds, citron, and other species used in Sukkot rituals—placed on the mosque’s stonework in the eastern area, alongside prayer books and sheets. This visually documents the presence and use of ritual items in the mosque courtyards during the incursion period.
The scene expanded beyond simply carrying these plants through the Al-Aqsa courtyards: rituals took place in multiple locations and were repeated throughout the tours, alongside increasingly intense collective prayers, singing, and clapping along the routes.
Thus, the fifth day marks not only the continuation of these rituals but also their spread across the mosque complex, as they take place in various locations rather than remaining confined to a single point.
Prayer shifts from the eastern area to the western portico
In the eastern area, groups of settlers lingered for extended periods while continuing collective prayers using religious texts and prayer sheets.
Footage shows that during these incursions, Muslim worshippers are cleared from the area and barred from entering, occupying, or even passing through it. The zone is left open for the intruders to perform their prayers and rituals.
However, today’s scene extended beyond the eastern area: singing and clapping were documented in all courtyards and porticoes, from the entrance at the Dung Gate to the exit at the Al-Silsileh Gate, reflecting the expanding area in which these displays are taking place.
Consequently, public prayer is no longer focused solely in the eastern area; the entire route through Al-Aqsa has become part of the scene, with rituals repeated at several stops during the incursion.
Prayers, hymns, and loud voices
The footage shows large groups gathering to perform rituals collectively. Singing, chanting, and clapping recur throughout the incursions, showing that these displays take place along the entire route rather than at a single location.
Feiglin: A political presence amidst the rituals
Among the scenes documented today was former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin performing the "Four Species" ritual in the eastern part of Al-Aqsa, accompanied by groups of visitors and under police guard.
Feiglin’s presence at today’s events is notable given his background as a former Israeli politician known for participating in efforts to promote Jewish prayer at the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The paradox of restrictions: Barring Muslims while rituals expand
Meanwhile, restrictions on Muslim access to Al-Aqsa Mosque continue during settler incursions. Police maintain a heavy presence at the gates and inside the mosque courtyards, while orders barring Palestinians from Jerusalem and the 1948 territories from entering the site remain in effect.
In the eastern area, Muslim movement is prohibited when settler groups are present, effectively reserving the space for the intruders to pray, perform rituals, and linger. Restrictions also apply along the entire incursion route, where Muslims are barred from standing, sitting, or even walking. Security forces clear the courtyards, forcing those present into the covered prayer halls, while allowing the intruders to move about and perform their rituals in the areas left vacant.
This creates a starkly contradictory scene in the same location: Muslim worshippers face restrictions on movement, and areas are cleared to remove them during incursions, while intruders are permitted to gather, sing, chant, clap, and use books, prayer sheets, and plants associated with Sukkot.
Notably, this continues despite police announcements barring certain ritual items and prayers inside Al-Aqsa; however, video footage clearly shows these items being used and prayers being performed collectively at multiple locations.
From the "Eastern Area" to a wider scope within Al-Aqsa
During the first days of Sukkot, activity on the ground centered mainly in the eastern area, near the Bab al-Rahma prayer hall and Dar al-Hadith, where prayers, gatherings, and rituals took place repeatedly.
By the fifth day, however, the rituals had spread across a wider area. The "Four Species" were no longer confined to one location, and prayers were no longer limited to the eastern zone: singing and clapping could be heard at the western portico, while rituals also took place along northern pathways and at other sites.
A recurring and expanding scenario
Since Sukkot began on September 26, Al-Aqsa has seen a series of incursions and public rituals. These activities continued throughout the holiday, which ends this year on October 2.
On the fifth day, developments involved not only the number of intruders—which, according to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, reached 2,468 settlers, bringing the total since Sunday to 7,186—but also a change in the nature of the scene. Larger groups gathered, prayers were repeated, chants grew louder, prayer books and sheets were used, and the "Four Species" rituals were performed at multiple locations throughout the mosque complex with increasing frequency.
