Israel formally allows Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque for first time

For the first time in history, Israeli authorities have officially sanctioned Jewish prayer inside the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. This development comes after Israeli police granted settlers permission to enter the mosque with Jewish prayer books, enabling them to perform group prayers, according to a Palestinian source from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf.

While such acts have occurred sporadically in the past without official approbation, this marks a significant breach of the longstanding status quo governing the holy site. Under the status quo, the 144-dunam (14.4 hectare) complex is considered an exclusively Islamic holy site, with the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf responsible for access, prayer arrangements, maintenance, and excavations. The formal permission for Jewish prayer signals a tangible shift in the dynamics at Al-Aqsa.