According to an Anadolu English report of Tuesday 16 of December 2025, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem to mark the Jewish Hanukkah holiday, a move that drew condemnation from Palestinian officials amid heightened tensions at the flashpoint holy site.
In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate denounced Netanyahu’s presence at the mosque compound, describing the visit to the Western Wall, also known as the Al-Buraq Wall, as “a new provocative move.” Palestinian officials said that the visit undermines the historical and legal status of the site and further inflames religious sensitivities in the occupied city.
The Al-Buraq Wall, referred to by Jews as the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, holds religious significance for both Muslims and Jews and forms an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Muslims regard the area as part of the sacred Al-Haram Al-Sharif, while Jews consider the wall the holiest place where they are permitted to pray.
Netanyahu’s office released photographs showing the prime minister at the Western Wall alongside several Israeli officials. The images also included United States (US) Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, whose presence signalled the political weight of the visit. The release of the photographs prompted renewed criticism from Palestinian authorities who argue that such high-profile appearances are intended to assert Israeli claims over the site.
The visit coincided with the eight-day Hanukkah holiday, which is observed this year from December 22. Palestinian officials said the holiday period has seen a noticeable increase in the number of Israeli settlers entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under Israeli police protection.
According to Palestinian authorities, at least 210 illegal Israeli settlers have entered the compound since Monday to mark Hanukkah. Such incursions are frequently met with objections from Palestinians, who view them as violations of the longstanding status quo governing worship at the site.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam’s third-holiest site, following Mecca and Medina. Jews refer to the broader area as the Temple Mount, which they believe was the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa compound, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. In 1980, it annexed the entire city, a move that has not been recognized by the international community and remains a core issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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