Huge surge of Jewish worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Muslims locked out
As hundreds of Jewish Israelis flocked in and out of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, the Temple Mount Administration, the body responsible for the entry of Jewish worshippers to the holy site, took to X to celebrate what it called “an amazing surge”.
According to the Temple Mount Administration, named after the Jewish term for the raised plateau Al-Aqsa Mosque stands on, 4,209 Jews entered the courtyards to pray since the Passover holiday began on Saturday. That’s more than all the Jewish worshippers that visited during holidays last year.
Aouni Bazbaz, director of international affairs at the Islamic Waqf, the organisation that administers Al-Aqsa Mosque, confirmed to Middle East Eye that there has indeed been a surge in controversial Jewish religious visits.
The Chief Rabbinate of Jerusalem has long declared Jewish worship on Temple Mount forbidden unless worshippers are "ritually pure", which is believed impossible under modern conditions.
Read more: Huge surge of Jewish worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque as Muslims locked out
