A man walks toward the Western Wall, with the Dome of the Rock of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the background, in the Old City of Jerusalem, on Dec. 4, 2025. (Credit: John Wessels/AFP
Nearly 190 Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, entered the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
They moved across the mosque's esplanade in groups, according to the Wafa news agency, and carried out Talmudic ritual tours under the watch of Israeli soldiers and police officers.
Jewish prayer is not permitted inside the compound, which remains under the custodianship of Jordan. Israeli incursions — often encouraged by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — occur regularly and have long been a point of contention between Israelis and Palestinians.
The al-Aqsa Mosque sits within a 150,000-square-meter complex known as al-Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary, which also houses the Dome of the Rock, a seventh-century shrine revered as Islam’s third holiest site. According to Islamic scripture, the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven from this location.
Qassem rejects cease-fire agreement reached in Washington, slams it as a 'capitulation'
Qaani: Minimum requirement for Lebanon is a return to pre-war lines