Khaberni - The Jerusalem Governorate considers that the recent events in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a serious and systematic escalation by extremist settler groups, which try to impose new realities inside the mosque compound by bringing in what are called "animal sacrifices" and intensifying raids under the cover of biblical and political religious events.
The Governorate pointed out that the number of attempts to bring sacrifices or reach them to the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque has risen to eight documented attempts since the beginning of the year during the seasons of "the first and second Passover," which is the highest number recorded since 1967. On three occasions, settlers managed to get the sacrifices to the entrances close to the Al-Aqsa Mosque before they were prevented from completing their attempts.
The Jerusalem Governorate noted that the year 2025 witnessed three attempts to bring animal sacrifices into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, including two attempts to slaughter the sacrifices after bringing them in, and a third attempt during which blood-stained sacrificial meat was brought in.
The Jerusalem Governorate warned of two extremely dangerous occasions in the coming period, which are expected to see an additional escalation in raid attempts and rituals inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque. These are: Friday 15-5-2026, which coincides with what is called "Jerusalem Day," commemorating the completion of the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967 and is considered one of the most dangerous occasions in terms of the scale of raids and attempts to demonstrate "sovereignty" inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.
And Friday 22-5-2026, which coincides with what is called the biblical "Feast of Weeks," and the expected compensatory invasion on the preceding Thursday 21-5. These are occasions typically used to intensify the raids and attempts to bring in plant and animal sacrifices to the mosque.
The Jerusalem Governorate called for continuously heading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, considering it the frontline in combating these attempts and reinforcing the perseverance of Jerusalemites inside it amid this accelerated escalation.
It emphasized the necessity of keeping the Al-Aqsa Mosque issue at the forefront of local and international media attention, and not allowing the marginalization of what is happening, at a time when the world is occupied with various issues, which settler groups try to exploit to pass further violations without adequate coverage or tracking.
and Wafa
Al-Aqsa Mosque guards thwarted an attempt by a group of settlers to storm the mosque through Bab Hatta on Friday, after they tried to bring a live sacrifice into its courtyards, coinciding with what is called "the second Passover."
Reports clarified that the settlers managed to bypass the first iron barrier set up by the occupation police at the entrance of the Bab corridor.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that Al-Aqsa guards promptly closed Bab Hatta as soon as the settlers approached and prevented their entry into the mosque.
It is noted that extremist "Temple" groups seek to introduce the sacrifices and slaughter them inside the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Last year, they brought a live sacrifice for a few minutes on the same occasion before the steadfast protectors and guards of the mosque confronted them and expelled them from it.
