ISRAELI GROUP WARNS OF EFFORTS TO CHANGE ‘RULES OF THE GAME’ AT AL-AQSA COMPOUND

Mon 26 May 2025:

The Israeli NGO Ir Amim, which says that it focuses on issues concerning Jerusalem in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, says that “Third Temple activists” have been active during today’s “Jerusalem Day” demonstrations.

The term refers to Israeli Jewish nationalists who hope to see the construction of a Third Temple on the current site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third-holiest site in Islam.

“Third Temple activists are everywhere, taking over light rail stations, handing out Third Temple flags, and leaving no doubt about the intentions of the participants in this parade: This is about a deep desire, and an action to change the rules of the game, to build the Third Temple, and to push everyone who is not connected to this vision away from the place,” the group said in a social media post.

“The next time someone tells you that this is all a struggle for equality and freedom of worship, so that Jews can also pray on the Mount, show them these pictures and remind them that this is what we stand against: against those who want to build the Third Temple.”

#דיווח_מהשטח_עיר_עמים: פעילי בית המקדש השלישי נמצאים בכל מקום, משתלטים על תחנות של הרכבת הקלה, מחלקים דגלי בית שלישי ולא מותירים כל ספק לגבי הכוונות של משתתפי המצעד הזה: מדובר פה ברצון עמוק, ופעולה לשינוי כללי המשחק, להקמת בית המקדש השלישי, ולדחיקת כל מי שאינו קשור לחזון הזה… pic.twitter.com/5dxPlZ7E9m

— עיר עמים (@IrAmim) May 26, 2025

Israeli ‘Jerusalem Day’ march aimed at asserting authority

Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim

Videos show Israeli citizens inside the Old City of Jerusalem, attacking Palestinian shops and throwing objects at them. Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and others stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

There have also been protests in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem, where Israeli citizens stormed the compound of UNRWA. The organisation has already been banned, but nonetheless, its offices were stormed.

This is again a reminder that no one has immunity.

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“Jerusalem Day” is when Israelis, in numbers reaching tens of thousands, carry out a march.

They start from the western side of the city, and they go through Damascus Gate, leading to the Old City inside East Jerusalem. They carry flags and chant anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian slogans.

The march ends at the Western Wall, a holy site in Judaism which is also in East Jerusalem.

These Israelis say Jerusalem is their undivided capital, whether it’s the eastern or western part, but the international community has not recognised Israel’s annexation of Jerusalem and considers this to be a negotiated issue in the final status negotiations.

Palestinians say there is no future Palestinian state without East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel’s Ben-Gvir ‘prays for victory’ in Gaza war after storming Al-Aqsa compound

עליתי להר הבית לרגל יום ירושלים, והתפללתי לניצחון במלחמה, להשבת כל חטופינו ולהצלחת ראש השב”כ החדש המיועד – האלוף דוד זיני. יום ירושלים שמח! pic.twitter.com/Hhz8PVzms7

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 26, 2025

Earlier this morning, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other politicians have been among thousands who stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and surrounding areas to celebrate “Jerusalem Day” and the occupation of the Palestinian territory.

Ben-Gvir released a video on his X account from the site – Islam’s third holiest – saying he “prayed for victory in the war, for the return of all our hostages, and for the success of the newly-appointed head of the Shin Bet – Major General David Zini”.

Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Vaserlauf and Knesset member Yitzhak Kreuzer were among those accompanying the ultranationalist minister.

Backed by armed police, Ben-Gvir has carried out similar provocative moves in the compound before, often at sensitive junctures in the war, to advocate for increased military pressure and to block all humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to celebrate ‘Jerusalem Day’

عاجل| مستوطنة ترفع علم الاحتلال داخل المسجد الأقصى المبارك. pic.twitter.com/1BSAtqUMjZ

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) May 26, 2025

A large number of Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and surrounding areas in Jerusalem, waving Israeli flags, chanting, and performing Talmudic rituals.

Thousands gathered at the Western Wall in the early hours of the morning to perform prayers.

Settlers marched through the alleyways of Jerusalem’s Old City, going through the Muslim quarter to mark the so-called “Jerusalem Day”, which commemorates the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of the city after the 1967 war.

Thousands of heavily armed police and border police were dispatched in advance, as the settlers regularly assault, attack, and harass Palestinians and shops in the Muslim quarter.

Jordan condemns storming of Al-Aqsa compound by Ben-Gvir and Israeli settlers

The kingdom’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the storming of the holy Muslim site by “extremist” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other members of the government and Knesset, who led a large group of settlers.

The movements were accompanied by “provocative and unacceptable practices, in blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo, and of Israel’s obligations as the occupying power”, it said in a statement.

Ministry spokesman Sufian Qudah said the Israeli officials were trying to “impose new facts on the ground” and were committing a “blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law”.

He reminded that Jordan and its Awqaf Department remain the legal entity with exclusive jurisdiction to administer affairs at the occupied site.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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