Claim: Footage shows Israeli settlers entering the al-Aqsa Mosque and offering prayers, while the police prevented Palestinians from entering the mosque.
Fact: The video likely shows Easter celebrations observed at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem.
A Facebook user posted a reel (archive) that purportedly shows Israeli settlers entering the al-Aqsa mosque. “Hundreds of Israeli settlers entered the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. According to Arab media, Israeli settlers performed their prayers in the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir also entered the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli police officers prevented Palestinians from entering al-Aqsa Mosque [translated from Urdu],” says the voice-over describing the scenes in the video.
Similar posts also circulated online here, here, and here.
While Israel has imposed strict restrictions on Palestinians entering Jerusalem and its holy sites in recent years, the video in question is not related to these events, as implied by the voice-over in the footage.
Restrictions on Palestinians entering Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israel imposed strict restrictions on Palestinians visiting the al-Aqsa Mosque and other sacred sites in Jerusalem since the war began on 7 October 2023. Both Muslims and Jewish people revere the al-Aqsa. While it is considered the third-holiest site among Muslims, ultranational Jewish groups also consider part of the al-Aqsa compound sacred to them and call it the “Temple Mount”.
During the holy month of Ramazan in March 2025, Israel permitted only Muslim worshippers over the age of 50 and their children to enter the al-Aqsa Mosque’s compound. It also limited the number of such worshippers who could enter the mosque.
Israel also placed restrictions on worshippers during Ramazan last year.
Such measures, aimed at Palestinian worshippers, are not new. In April 2023, the Israeli forces raided the al-Aqsa Mosque, firing stun grenades and rubber bullets at worshippers during Ramazan.
“These orchestrated attacks demonstrate just how far Israeli authorities will go to maintain their cruel system of apartheid. Shocking footage from the past two days shows Israeli security forces beating men, women and children, and dragging them out of the mosque where they had gathered to spend the night in peaceful prayer and reflection. Once again, Israeli security forces have shown the world what apartheid looks like,” Amnesty International said about the raid.
These draconian measures are not limited to Palestinian Muslims only. Palestinian Christians who were visiting the holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate Easter this year faced heavy restrictions as well.
Easter celebrations amid the ongoing war in Palestine
Amid Israel’s deadly war on Palestine, which was termed a genocide by Amnesty International and other human rights organisations, Palestinian Christians observed a sombre Easter while limiting their activities to their homes.
In both the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian Christians observe a centuries-old tradition of visiting holy sites during Easter, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem. Before the war broke out on 7 October 2023, they could obtain a military permit to visit Jerusalem. However, that changed recently as obtaining permits became more restrictive.
Fact or Fiction?
An analysis of the video shows it does not depict scenes from the al-Aqsa Mosque.
First, a translation of the Arabic text superimposed on the video, using Google Lens, revealed that it does not mention al-Aqsa Mosque. Instead, it states: “Enter now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to begin the funeral of the Master of the Universe, the Master of Love, the Master of Peace…” suggesting the footage is unrelated to the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Second, the procession of people holding crosses and walking solemnly towards the entrance indicates it is from a religious ceremony. The footage does not feature any conflict, nor does it show police barring Muslims from entering the compound, as the voiceover alleged. In fact, it depicts a peaceful Christian religious ceremony.
A reverse-search of keyframes from the video then yielded an X post (archive) from 19 April by Catholic Arena, a religious news media outlet. “Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa arrives at the Holy Sepulchre, the site of the burial of Jesus,” the description stated. This video appeared to be a longer version of the video being fact-checked, containing the same overlaid text highlighted in red, but without the voiceover in Urdu.
Possibly, Catholic Arena’s post is the original source of the video in the claim since it is the earliest instance of the video found online. All other claims linking this footage to al-Aqsa surfaced after 19 April 2025 as well.
A keyword search based on the caption of the X post further revealed that the footage likely shows Easter celebrations presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem. On 19 April, a day before Easter this year, Christians gathered for the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to be buried according to Christian tradition.
A visual comparison of the entrance shown in the footage in the claim with actual images of the entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, shown below, further confirms that the former shows the church and not the al-Aqsa mosque:
On the left, a scene from the footage in the claim shows the entrance. On the right is an image of the entrance by the Maidan Project.
Therefore, the claim is false.
Virality
The Facebook post was shared 5,400 times and liked 20,500 times.
It was also shared on Facebook here.
The video appeared on Instagram here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
The claim appeared on X here, here, and here.
On YouTube here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
On TikTok here.
Conclusion: The video does not show Israeli settlers entering and offering prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque. It likely shows Easter celebrations held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Background image in cover photo: Wikipedia
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com