Israeli Far-Right Lawmaker Joins Illegal Settlers in Storming Al-Aqsa Mosque

sajadi Editor : Widi - Friday, 18 April 2025 - 09:54 WIB

Friday, 18 April 2025 - 09:54 WIB

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Israeli police accompany a group of Jewish visitors past the Dome of the Rock mosque at the al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on May 5, 2022. Clashes erupted between Israelis and Palestinians at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, after a 10-day cooling of tensions at the holy site, Israeli police said. The Israeli police said they had repelled "dozens of rioters" who had been "throwing stones and other objects" at the security forces. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Jerusalem, MINA – A hardline member of Israel’s Knesset, Zvi Sukkot, joined thousands of illegal Israeli settlers in storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday, marking the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Passover, Anadolu Agency reported.

According to a statement from the Jerusalem governor’s office, the settlers also entered the ancient Bab Al-Rahma cemetery, where they performed Talmudic rituals.

The Bab Al-Rahma is a centuries-old Muslim cemetery, serving as an endowment property for over 1,400 years and containing the graves of several companions of Prophet Muhammad.

Zvi Sukkot, affiliated with the far-right Religious Zionism Party under the leadership of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, reportedly forced his way into the mosque compound and carried out what was described as “epic prostration,” a ritual prayer act.

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Ben-Gvir publicly praised Sukkot’s actions, stating: “I’m happy to see that also MK Zvi Sukkot, like many thousands, is prostrating himself and praying at the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque).” His comments signal support for efforts to alter the long-standing status quo at the sacred Islamic site.

Since 2003, Israeli settlers have been permitted to enter the Al-Aqsa compound almost daily, excluding Fridays and Saturdays, despite repeated condemnations from Palestinian authorities and international actors.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam. While Muslims revere it as a deeply sacred place, Jews refer to the area as the “Temple Mount,” believed to be the historic location of two ancient Jewish temples.

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is situated, since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and formally annexed it in 1980, a move that remains unrecognized by the international community. []

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)