The governorate said entries continued on Friday, with additional visits expected on Saturday.

A total of 11,409 Israeli visitors entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday season between September 12 and October 1, according to Palestinian authorities.

The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement on Friday that the figure covered entries recorded from the beginning of the holiday period through Thursday.

Thousands Enter Al-Aqsa Mosque During Sukkot

According to the governorate, 593 Israeli visitors entered the Al-Aqsa compound on September 13 after the site was closed to such entries the previous day.

A further 1,678 entered the compound on September 20 and 21, including 992 on the first day and 686 on the second.

The largest number was recorded during the first five days of Sukkot, from September 27 to October 1, when the governorate said 9,138 people entered the compound.

The governorate said entries continued on Friday, with additional visits expected on Saturday.

Palestinian Authorities Report Religious Rituals

The Jerusalem Governorate said the entries were accompanied by increasingly public religious rituals involving Israeli ministers, rabbis, officials and political figures.

Those identified in the statement included National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Zehut party leader Moshe Feiglin and Rabbi Yehuda Glick.

The governorate also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in religious rituals at the Al-Buraq Wall.

According to the statement, reported practices inside the Al-Aqsa compound included collective prayers, prostration, chanting, dancing, singing, clapping and blowing a horn.

Participants also reportedly carried prayer books and sheets and wore religious clothing and shirts displaying images and slogans associated with the “Temple”.

Status of Al-Aqsa Mosque

Under the longstanding status quo, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is administered by the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which is affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf.

The established arrangement recognises the site as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims, while non-Muslim visitors may enter under specified arrangements.

Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted Israeli visitors to enter the compound through the Mughrabi Gate under police protection. Palestinian and Jordanian authorities have repeatedly called for an end to such incursions.

The reported increase in entries and religious rituals has added to longstanding tensions surrounding access and worship arrangements at one of the most sensitive religious sites in Jerusalem.