Jerusalem Governorate warns of settler plans for animal sacrifices at Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Jerusalem Governorate has warned of attempts by settlers to bring animal sacrifices into Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing the move as a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing new religious rituals within the mosque compound.
In a statement issued Sunday evening, the Governorate said these attempts coincide with the continued closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation authorities for the 30th consecutive day, preventing worshippers from accessing the site.
The Governorate stated that such actions represent an effort to use religious rituals as a tool to Judaize Al-Aqsa Mosque, with plans to bring and slaughter animals — such as lambs or goats — inside the compound during the Jewish Passover holiday.
According to the statement, so-called “Temple Mount organizations” are exploiting the ongoing closure to intensify mobilisation efforts, including the use of AI-generated images and videos on their platforms to encourage supporters to carry out these acts.
The Governorate noted that 2025 has already seen three unprecedented attempts to introduce animal sacrifices into the mosque compound, including incidents where animals were slaughtered or blood-stained meat was brought inside. It described these actions as part of a systematic escalation aimed at imposing a new reality within the site.
It further warned that these efforts are tied to ideological beliefs within segments of the Israeli right wing and religious movements, which seek to establish new practices linked to the site and alter its historical and religious status.
The Governorate stressed that the period of the Jewish Passover, scheduled between 2nd and 9thApril, could witness further escalation, warning that such developments pose a serious threat to the sanctity and status of Al-Aqsa Mosque.