During the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in 2025, Jerusalem witnessed an unprecedented surge of Jewish visits to the Temple Mount. On the first day of the intermediate days, hundreds ascended the site with singing and dancing. While worshippers were barred from bringing the Four Species into the compound, many carried them to the gates. Inside the Mount, the celebrations continued with rare scenes of collective joy. A few young participants even managed to smuggle a lulav inside and recite the blessing on the Mount itself.
National security minister joins the ascent
Among those present was Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who prayed publicly at the head of a group of pilgrims. His appearance was widely viewed as a signal to police to ease restrictions. According to estimates from the Muslim Waqf, about 1,300 Jews entered the Mount that morning.
استباحة.. المستوطنون يرقصون ويغنون ويؤدون طقوسا استفزازية في المسجد الأقصى المبارك. pic.twitter.com/DC7u3j2VfK
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) October 8, 2025
Police prepare for heavy crowds
Jerusalem District Police anticipated the surge. On September 30, 2025, Commander Dvir Tamim of the David Sub-District issued special instructions for reinforced forces and crowd management. To cope with the pressure at the Mughrabi Gate, officers allowed new groups every ten minutes, with up to six groups inside at once – a departure from standard protocol designed to maintain order and allow thousands to ascend within the daily timeframe.
Opposition criticism
Ben-Gvir’s ascent drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmaker Gilad Kariv of the Democrats. Writing on social media platform X, he accused the minister of deliberately undermining hostage release talks:
“Ben-Gvir’s pompous ascent to the Temple Mount was intended to sabotage negotiations for the release of the hostages and an end to the war. He has no limits – only an election campaign and a strategy to turn the entire Israeli right into Kahanists. Netanyahu is the one enabling this alliance with extremists. This conduct will lead to an explosion on the Mount. It is only a matter of time.”
Hamas condemnation
The Hamas movement also condemned the minister’s visit, framing it not around Sukkot but around the 35th anniversary of the 1990 Temple Mount riots. On October 8, 1990, Palestinians hurled stones from the Al-Aqsa compound onto Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall, prompting Israeli police to storm the site with live fire. Seventeen Palestinians were killed and about 100 wounded.
In its statement, Hamas said Ben-Gvir’s ascent was “a provocative step by the occupation – a message meant to insult Muslims’ feelings, their pain, and the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
