JERUSALEM, November 15, 2026 (WAFA) – Marouf al-Rifai, spokesperson for the Jerusalem Governorate, warned on Sunday of plans by extremist Temple groups to carry out a major incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins on the evening of December 4 and runs through December 12. The plans include executing the largest mass incursion into the mosque during the eight days of the holiday.
In a statement, al-Rifai said the groups are demanding extended hours for incursions, authorization to perform public Talmudic rituals inside the mosque’s courtyards, and permission to bring a menorah into the courtyard of the Dome of the Rock.
He noted that the number of Israeli colonists who stormed the mosque during Hanukkah rose from 2,567 in 2024 to 2,779 in 2025, while 6,176 colonists stormed the compound in October.
He explained that the danger of these plans lies in exploiting the holiday to impose religious rituals inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, gradually eroding the historical and legal status quo in place since 1967, which affirms the site's Islamic identity and its administration by the Islamic Waqf Department. He warned that introducing Jewish religious symbols into the mosque could set a precedent to be repeated during future holidays.
Al-Rifai added that these incursions are accompanied by restrictions on Muslim worshippers, including barring specific age groups from entering the mosque, confiscating their identity cards, removing Murabiteen—Palestinian worshippers maintaining a constant presence at the site—and clearing its eastern courtyards.
He said these measures coincide with ongoing efforts to Judaize the Old City and the area surrounding the mosque, including installing menorahs, organizing marches, and delivering presentations about the alleged Temple inside Al-Aqsa's courtyards.
Al-Rifai warned that any attempt to bring a menorah into the mosque or conduct religious rituals there could trigger confrontations and escalation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as broader regional tensions.
He called on Palestinians to intensify their presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque and urged Arab and Islamic countries to assume their responsibilities in protecting the holy site and preserving Jerusalem's Arab and Islamic identity.
T.R.
