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Jewish fundamentalists increase attempts to smuggle animals into Al-Aqsa Mosque for sacrifice

April 21, 2026

Jewish fundamentalists in occupied East Jerusalem have recently intensified attempts to smuggle animals for sacrifice at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, renewing fears of a desire to destroy one of Islam’s holiest sites.

According to Palestinian Authority (PA) officials responsible for the Jerusalem governorate, Jewish fundamentalists tried at least seven times to smuggle goats and sheep into the holy site for sacrifice on Sunday.

According to some interpretations of Judaism, Al-Aqsa Mosque must be destroyed and a Jewish temple (the Third Temple) built in its place to usher in the coming of the messiah.

Animals, such as an unblemished red heifer, should be sacrificed to purify the site before the temple is built.

The purification ritual involves the use of ashes from a sacrificed red heifer, red yarn, cedar wood, and hyssop mixed with fresh spring water collected by ritually pure Jewish children.

Israel captured Al-Aqsa Mosque, which Jews call the Temple Mount, and occupied it during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Officially, Jews are allowed to visit the mosque compound but are not allowed to perform religious rituals there.

However, in recent years, Israeli police have turned against the rule, allowing Jewish prayer, singing, and the use of prayer items.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who controls Israel’s police, has made numerous visits with armed guards to pray at the mosque compound.

Ismail Patel, a UK-based author and chair of Friends of al-Aqsa, told The New Arab that the animal sacrifice attempts aim to assert Jewish control over the mosque, where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have prayed and ascended to heaven in a vision.

“It signals that they are no longer petitioning for access, they are asserting ownership … the sacrifice does not merely accompany their ambition to demolish Al-Aqsa and establish a Third Temple – it enacts ambition. It is worship as conquest, and that is why it must be named for what it is – terrorism,” Patel said.

The Jerusalem governorate added that Jewish fundamentalist organizations devoted to building the Third Temple are exploiting the unprecedented closure of Al-Aqsa to attempt to carry out sacrifices.

Israeli police closed Al-Aqsa at the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on 28 February, citing security concerns. Police reopened the site on 9 April, after a six-week closure.

“Every major military escalation in the region has been accompanied by a quiet but decisive encroachment on Al-Aqsa,” Patel explained.

In April of last year, the PA expressed “extreme concern” over threats circulating among Jewish fundamentalist organizations to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The PA’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates warned of calls circulating on Hebrew-language social media platforms to destroy the mosque and construct a temple in its place.

An Al-generated video circulated depicting the destruction of the mosque and construction of the “Third Temple” under the title “Next Year in Jerusalem.”

In a statement published on X, the ministry said it considered the social media posts a “systematic incitement to escalate the targeting of Christian and Islamic holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.”

In August 2024, Ben-Gvir caused outrage by saying he would build a Jewish synagogue at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

In September 2000, Israeli politician Ariel Sharon visited Al-Aqsa with a large contingent of armed guards, sparking what later became known as the “Second Intifada,” or uprising of Palestinians against the Israeli occupation.

During the uprising, Israeli troops and snipers killed 6,371 Palestinians, including 1,317 minors and children, according to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem.