On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 182 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under heavy Israeli police protection, according to statements from Palestinian authorities. The intrusions occurred in morning and evening shifts, with settlers performing Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock.

On the same day, 798 foreign tourists accessed the site through a controlled gate. Official figures indicate that in November 2025, approximately 8,266 settlers and 15,000 tourists visited the compound. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is revered as the third-holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming it as the location of two ancient Jewish temples.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa site, during the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed it in 1980—a move not recognized internationally. Such visits by non-Muslims are permitted but remain highly controversial, with Palestinian and Muslim authorities viewing them as provocations.