Israel's Minister of National Security led a group of provocateurs who stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque

More than 3,200 Israeli settlers, backed by law enforcement, carried out a mass incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem. The incident, which took place on July 23, 2026, drew sharp criticism from Jerusalem authorities, who viewed the participation of officials in the event as a dangerous escalation of the conflict.

According to and Anadolu Agency, the large-scale procession was led by Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir together with Knesset Member Amit Halevi. During the event, Israeli security forces restricted Muslims’ access to the holy site, using force against residents of the Old City and detaining worshippers.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, settlers entered the area in groups of 150 people. Under police protection, the participants performed Talmudic rituals and sang religious hymns in the eastern part of the compound. Palestinian representatives described the incident as an attempt to forcibly alter the historical status quo of the mosque, noting that the shift from actions by individual groups to direct government support for such events represents an alarming shift in Israeli policy.

As a reminder, American journalist Tucker Carlson stated that a significant number of Israeli soldiers, including American volunteers, are participating in combat operations aimed at rebuilding the Third Temple. Carlson backed up his claims with an analysis of the insignia on IDF soldiers’ uniforms, which, according to him, depict the symbol of the Temple, as well as with quotes from servicemembers regarding the goals of their participation in the conflict.