Thousands Of Jewish Worshipers Reportedly Gain Access To Temple Mount, Handful Arrested Over Prayer

According to a report by the Times of Israel on Thursday July 23, 2026, thousands of Jewish visitors made their way to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount on Thursday, according to Beyadenu, an organization that campaigns for expanded Jewish prayer rights at the site, as large crowds gathered during the observance of Tisha B’Av.

A spokesperson for the group said around 3,000 Jewish worshippers had already entered the compound by midday, while hundreds more were waiting outside for their turn to visit. Additional visitors were expected later in the day.

The spokesperson also estimated that about a dozen people had been arrested after praying on the western side of the Temple Mount, an area where police continue to restrict Jewish prayer. He claimed many others also prayed there but were not detained because of the large number of worshippers present.

According to the group, police allowed Jewish visitors to bring Tisha B’Av prayer books onto the site. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was also seen carrying a prayer book and praying openly during his visit, repeating a move he made during last year’s observance of the fast.

The Temple Mount, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, remains one of the most sensitive religious sites in Jerusalem. Under the long-standing status quo established after Israel captured the Old City in the 1967 war, Muslims are permitted to pray at the compound, while Jewish visitors are generally allowed to enter but not conduct public prayer there.

That arrangement has increasingly become the subject of political debate. Ben Gvir has repeatedly stated that he supports and permits Jewish prayer at the site, while the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has continued to maintain that the longstanding status quo remains official government policy…....