Israelis sing national anthem inside Al-Aqsa Mosque during raid

<article data-history-node-id="441467" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-sing-national-anthem-inside-al-aqsa-mosque-during-storming" class="story default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-sing-national-anthem-inside-al-aqsa-mosque-during-storming" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Israelis sing national anthem inside Al-Aqsa Mosque during raid</span> </a> </h2> <footer> <div class="author"> Submitted by <span class="field field-uid"><a title="View user profile." href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/mera-aladam" lang about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/users/mera-aladam" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>Mera Aladam</a></span> on <span class="field field-created"><time datetime="2026-06-01T09:53:13+01:00" title="1 June 2026 09:53 BST">Mon, 06/01/2026 - 09:53</time> </span> </div> </footer> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-subhead">Around 200 ultranationalists storm Jerusalem holy site, raising Israeli flag in front of the Dome of the Rock</div> <div class="field field-field-main-image"> <picture> <source srcset="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/article_page/public/images-story/Screenshot%202026-06-01%20at%20121708.png.webp?itok=C9VGlVWe 1x" type="image/webp" width="1400" height="788"> <img srcset="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/article_page/public/images-story/Screenshot%202026-06-01%20at%20121708.png.webp?itok=C9VGlVWe 1x" width="2000" height="1125" src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/max_2600x2600/public/images-story/Screenshot%202026-06-01%20at%20121708.png.jpg?itok=k9x6ODnk" alt="Israeli ultranationalists raise the national flag and sing the anthem in front of the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on 31 May 2026 (X/Screengrab)" typeof="foaf:Image" fetchpriority="high"> </picture> </div> <div class="field field-field-cutline">Israeli ultranationalists raise the national flag and sing the anthem in front of the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on 31 May 2026 (X/Screengrab)</div> <div class="field field-field-wide-photo-video">Off</div> <div class="field field-body clearfix"><p>A group of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel">Israeli</a> ultranationalists raised the national flag and sang the anthem during a raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday.</p> <p>At least 199 Israelis took part in the police-protected incursion, according to the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, the body responsible for administering the site.</p> <p>In addition to raising the flag and singing the national anthem, some participants were seen performing Talmudic prayers.</p> <p>Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in occupied East Jerusalem, is one of Islam's holiest sites.</p> <p>For decades, it has been governed by an internationally recognised status quo arrangement - a set of rules and regulations regarded as a binding international norm and long recognised by world powers. Under this arrangement, the mosque is designated as an exclusively Islamic site where only Muslims are permitted to worship.</p><div class="block-adsense block-adsense-managed-ad-block"><div> <div class="adsense responsive"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6114695881218027" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <!-- responsive --> <ins class="adsbygoogle mee-auto-ad-wrapper " style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6114695881218027" data-ad-slot="8690493793" data-ad-format="horizontal" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </div> </div> <p>While only Muslim prayers are allowed within the complex, access, maintenance and administration of the site fall under the authority of the Islamic Waqf, under the protection of Jordan.</p> <p>Israel has for decades been accused of violating the status quo, increasingly facilitating near-daily incursions by ultranationalists, who pray, dance and raise Israeli flags within the complex.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Settlers held flags and sang Israel's national anthem during a raid of Al-Aqsa on Sunday.<br> <br> For years, police raids, visits by Jewish extremists and calls by ministers for Jewish prayers have increased, fuelling accusations that Israel is trying to change the site's status quo. <a href="https://t.co/iCoVIXCPJY">pic.twitter.com/iCoVIXCPJY</a></p> — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) <a href="https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/2061064906498036120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p>Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Omar Rajoub, director of the media department at the Jerusalem Governorate, said that "raising the Israeli flag inside the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, along with performing provocative rituals, is part of a systematic and deliberate official Israeli policy led by the extremist occupation government".</p> <p>"These practices aim to impose new realities by force in occupied East Jerusalem and undermine the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque," he added.</p> <div class="mee-readmore mee-readmore-article-story mee-readmore-type-text align-right"> <div class="mee-readmore-description">Al-Aqsa: Israeli incursions have increased by more than 18,000 percent since 2003</div> <a class="mee-readmore-link" href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/al-aqsa-israeli-incursions-increase-more-18000-percent-2003">Read More »</a> </div> <p>Rajoub warned that the actions of settlers form part of an ongoing colonial project to Judaise the city and erase its religious and historical identity.</p> <p>He said that such incursions, carried out under the protection of Israeli authorities, constitute "a clear violation of international law" and held the Israeli government fully responsible for the escalation.</p> <p>As settlers stormed the site on Sunday, Israeli police further restricted access for <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine">Palestinian</a> worshippers attempting to enter the mosque. Several reported that their identity cards were confiscated at the complex's outer gates.</p> <p>The Waqf, which operates under the custodianship of the king of <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/jordan">Jordan</a>, said settlers deliberately provoked guards and worshippers by taking photographs inside the courtyards, including in front of the Dome of the Rock.</p> <p>For decades, Israel prohibited displays of the Israeli flag and Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque over fears that such actions could trigger violence in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the occupied Palestinian territories.</p> <p>However, ultranationalist groups, which advocate the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque, have long opposed these restrictions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government has increasingly permitted Jewish prayer at the site since taking office in 2022.</p> </div> <div class="field field-field-topic"><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/occupation" hreflang="en">Occupation</a></div> <div class="field field-field-coauthor-location"> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-field-article-location"> </div> <div class="field field-field-section"><a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/all" hreflang="en">News</a></div> <div class="field field-field-post-date-override"> <div>Post Date Override</div> <div>0</div> </div> <div class="field field-field-update-date-override"> <div>Update Date</div> <div><time datetime="2020-05-04T21:19:45+01:00">Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19</time> </div> </div> <div class="field field-field-update-date-check"> <div>Update Date Override</div> <div>0</div> </div> </div> </article>