Jewish youths detained after forcing entry to Temple Mount for Shavuot sacrificial ritual

Thirteen youths have been arrested on suspicion of illegally entering the Temple Mount and attempting to conduct a Shavuot sacrifice. Police reported that the youths breached barricades and pushed past officers to enter the holy site on Friday.

Authorities stated that soldiers pursued and apprehended the individuals, removing them from the Temple Mount before detaining them for questioning. The youths allegedly intended to offer loaves of bread as a sacrifice, referencing a biblical commandment for Shavuot. This differs from recent incidents where activists attempted to smuggle live animals, such as goats, onto the mount for Passover sacrifices.

This event is the third instance in two months where Jewish activists have been detained for attempting to reintroduce sacrificial rituals at the Temple Mount. Public prayer and sacrificial rituals have been prohibited at the site since the 1967 "Status Quo" laws were established, due to fears of severe disturbances and threats to national security. Additionally, religious authorities forbid ascending the Temple Mount due to uncertainty regarding the precise location of the Holy of Holies.