Clash Erupts at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Israeli Forces Bar Palestinian Worshippers
Violence flared at the Bab as-Silsila entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem on Sunday, as Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian worshippers. Tensions skyrocketed amid tight security measures and settler provocations ahead of the Jewish New Year.
Israel Blocks Palestinians Under 50, Lets Settlers In
Israeli troops imposed harsh restrictions, barring Palestinian worshippers under 50 from access to the holy Al-Aqsa site. The crackdown cleared the way for hundreds of ultranationalist Israeli settlers to enter the compound via Morocco Gate for Rosh Hashanah celebrations. The Jerusalem Islamic Endowments Department confirmed the military was actively preparing the site for the settler influx.
Worshippers Protest and Are Attacked
Following morning prayers, a group of Muslim worshippers protested settler harassment at the compound. The situation exploded when Israeli forces beat three worshippers—including an elderly man and woman—who objected to a settler blowing a horn near Bab as-Silsila. Two men were arrested and whisked away to an undisclosed location, according to reports.
Social Media Fuels Fear of Escalation
Videos of settlers touring the Al-Aqsa courtyard quickly spread online, sparking outrage and fears over further clashes. The latest violence highlights the deep-rooted and ongoing battle over control of Jerusalem’s sacred sites—a city sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike.
