Over 2,300 right-wing Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under police protection on Tuesday, while Palestinian worshippers were barred from the site during the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av. The coordinated incursions mark one of the largest such breaches in recent years. Main Developments Israeli police blocked Palestinian access to the mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, allowing only Israeli visitors to enter the compound. Right-wing groups, some chanting nationalist slogans, moved through the site for several hours. Palestinian officials condemned the actions, stating these incursions deliberately seek to undermine the longstanding status quo governing the holy site. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, sits on a plateau also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount. Read also: 3 reasons Norway challenges FIFA over Balogun red card reversal Background Under a fragile arrangement dating back to 1967, non-Muslims may visit the compound but not pray there, while the Jordan-run Waqf administers daily affairs. Israeli authorities have gradually allowed larger groups of Jewish visitors, particularly during Jewish holidays, escalating tensions. Tisha B’Av commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples, and some Jewish activists have used the day to push for greater access or even construction of a new temple on the site. Palestinian leaders view such moves as a direct assault on their religious and national rights. Why It Matters Violations of the status quo at Al-Aqsa have historically triggered wider violence, including the 2021 Gaza war and repeated clashes across the occupied West Bank. Each incursion risks inflaming religious sentiment across the Muslim world. For Palestinians, the mosque represents a red line. Any perceived change to the site's administration or access rules can quickly escalate into broader confrontations with Israeli forces. What's Next More right-wing visits are expected during the coming days as Tisha B’Av observances continue. Palestinian authorities have called for international intervention but face limited diplomatic leverage. The Israeli government has not commented on whether it will maintain the ban on Palestinian worshippers beyond the holiday period. The Waqf has urged calm while warning that repeated incursions could break the fragile arrangement entirely.