Israel permits expanded Jewish rituals at Al-Aqsa Mosque, drawing regional criticism

Israeli police have allowed increased Jewish religious activities within Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque compound since the start of 2026. These include collective prayers, prostration, and the introduction of prayer books, which Palestinian and Jordanian authorities say violate the site's historic status quo. The actions have included large group entries, such as one led by an Israeli minister on July 23, and the raising of Israeli flags in the courtyards. Jordan, which holds formal custodianship, has condemned these practices as a desecration of the exclusively Muslim holy site.