Israeli Settlers and Leaders Storm Al-Aqsa and Western Wall Tunnels Ahead of Yom Kippur

Israeli settlers and top government figures have carried out a series of provocative incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and historical excavation tunnels in occupied East Jerusalem. The events occurred during the weekend build-up to Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, and ahead of next month’s Israeli general election, according to reporting by Al Jazeera.

On Thursday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other figures entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. By Sunday morning, the Palestinian Jerusalem governorate reported on its official Facebook page that approximately 570 settlers had stormed the courtyards of the holy site by 10:00 am local time, performing Talmudic rituals and prostrations to mark the holiday.

Simultaneously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a labyrinth of excavation tunnels situated beneath occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Early Sunday morning, Netanyahu published videos and photographs on his official Instagram account documenting his participation in Jewish Selichot prayers at the Western Wall, known to Muslims as the al-Buraq Wall.

Protected by security forces, Netanyahu, accompanied by government ministers and thousands of settlers, arrived at the Western Wall plaza on Saturday evening. Footage shared by the prime minister showed him performing rituals behind bulletproof glass. Another video captured Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, walking through an excavation tunnel running beneath the Western Wall while Jewish prayers were conducted nearby.

In a video statement recorded inside the tunnels, Netanyahu said that touching the rock of the wall was moving and placed him close to what he termed the "Holy of Holies," adding that Israel would always remain in the area. The subterranean spaces lie directly beneath the Al-Aqsa compound, rendering any incursions deeply sensitive for the Palestinian population of the occupied territory.

The actions drew swift and severe condemnation from Palestinian factions. The Palestinian group Hamas issued a statement on its official Telegram channel decrying the events. The group denounced Netanyahu—against whom an International Criminal Court arrest warrant has been issued—for entering the excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque and al-Buraq Wall. Hamas called the visit and accompanying statements a blatant assault on the identity and status of the mosque, as well as a provocation against Palestinians and the wider Arab and Islamic worlds, while reaffirming Al-Aqsa’s exclusively Islamic heritage.

Israel has conducted archaeological excavations beneath occupied East Jerusalem for years, drawing frequent condemnations from the United Nations and archaeological experts who note there is no scientific proof supporting claims that the works uncover the Second Temple's rampart wall. Critics view the excavations and tours as efforts to cement Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian land, where East Jerusalem is envisioned by Palestinians as the capital of a future state.

Political analysts suggest the timing of the weekend's events is closely tied to domestic Israeli politics. Netanyahu currently trails in opinion polls against his political rival Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party. Ahmed al-Hila, a political analyst specializing in Middle East affairs and the Arab-Israeli conflict, told Al Jazeera that Netanyahu is leveraging religious symbolism for political survival ahead of the October general election.

According to al-Hila, the prime minister sought to project himself as a right-wing leader consolidating the Israeli political and religious narrative around Al-Aqsa in an effort to secure maximum votes. Al-Hila also noted that Netanyahu’s appearance behind bulletproof glass shields during his public address highlights that East Jerusalem remains heavily contested and has not submitted to total Israeli security control.

Furthermore, analysts connect the political timing of the visit to international criticism surrounding the controversial E1 settlement project. The Israeli government has recently issued tenders for the E1 project, which is designed to sever East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank, effectively isolating the city from its broader Palestinian surroundings. Analysts view the recent subterranean and site visits as visible assertions of Israeli sovereignty over the entire city amid global pushback.