In late July, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right minister of security in Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and a West Bank settler, joined over 2,000 Jewish extremists in an incursion at al-Aqsa mosque compound, one of Jerusalem’s most sensitive religious sites. The visit represented a significant escalation of activity at the location, with participants singing the national anthem, performing religious rituals in the compound’s center, and setting up temporary structures. Jordanian officials subsequently warned that the site could face an “imminent” Israeli takeover, while eight Arab nations issued a joint condemnation of the “mass incursions by settlers led by extremist Israeli ministers.”
The al-Aqsa compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, sits at the center of Jerusalem’s Old City and holds profound religious significance for both Muslims and Jews. The site has been governed by a delicate agreement, often referred to as the “status quo,” established after the 1967 Six-Day War. Under this arrangement, Jordan retained custodianship of the location, Muslims retain exclusive prayer and worship rights at the compound itself, while Jews may visit at designated times but cannot pray there. The compound houses both the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, among Islam’s holiest sites, while the Western Wall at its base represents a remnant of the ancient Jewish temple.
Recent incursions follow a pattern of gradually escalating visits by Jewish religious extremists since 2023. Initial visits involved small groups of settlers who prayed discreetly at the compound’s edges under police escort. Over subsequent months, these gatherings expanded significantly in size and visibility, with participants increasingly performing public religious ceremonies. The involvement of police forces and temporary infrastructure such as shade tents has been interpreted as an attempt to normalize Jewish presence at the site and test the boundaries of the existing agreement.
The broader context involves efforts by Israel’s far-right coalition members to promote the concept of a third Jewish temple on the site, a notion long considered fringe but increasingly mainstream within extremist circles. Some activists have adopted symbolism featuring flags depicting a future temple structure. Past challenges to the status quo have sparked significant violence, including a 2000 visit by then-opposition leader Ariel Sharon that contributed to the second intifada. Hamas similarly invoked the site’s tensions when naming its October 2023 attack on Israel the “al-Aqsa flood.”
The Israeli government faces national elections scheduled for October, with officials appearing to accelerate settlement expansion and other West Bank initiatives before the election cycle concludes. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly endorsed Jewish prayer at the site, indicating government-level approval for changes previously associated with radical factions. These developments have prompted warnings from establishment Israeli figures, including former security officials and judges, who have expressed concerns that the government’s actions toward Palestinian territories create long-term security risks for Israel.
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