Dozens of Israeli Officials Call for Storming Al-Aqsa Mosque: What's Going On?

Dozens of Israeli officials, including three ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, have called on Jews to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex en masse on Friday (15/5) next week. The date of 15 May marks the anniversary of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem, the location of the sacred complex. As reported by Anadolu Agency and cited by Middle East Monitor on Wednesday (6/5/2026). According to the Hebrew calendar, Israel commemorates what it calls “Jerusalem Day” and the “reunification” of the city on 15 May this year. Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967. The same date also marks the “Nakba” commemoration, the term used by Palestinians to refer to the establishment of Israel on the ruins of Palestinian villages on 15 May 1948. Local Israeli media reports from Army Radio state that 13 members of the Knesset, or Israeli parliament, have requested the opening of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex to Jews next week. Among those parliament members are three Israeli ministers: Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Sports Minister Miki Zohar, and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli. According to Army Radio, Israeli police are likely to reject the request from the parliament members, although they have previously allowed large-scale stormings into the sacred complex. The Israeli media outlet also quoted colleagues of Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, saying that the decision is in the hands of Netanyahu and that he should be consulted. Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in the world for Muslims. For Jews, the sacred complex is called Temple Mount or the Temple Hill, claimed to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples. Since 2003, Israeli police have allowed Jews to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex every day, except on Fridays and Saturdays. Palestinians view Jewish stormings of the sacred complex as highly provocative actions. Palestinians consider such actions to violate the sanctity of the holy site and aim to change the religious status quo of the sacred complex. Palestinians also complain that Israel has, for decades, increased efforts to Judaise East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, and erase its Arab and Islamic identity. Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, based on international resolutions that do not recognise Israel’s occupation of the city in 1967 or its annexation in 1980.