Hundreds of Palestinian expanded the ongoing presence in and around Al Aqsa Mosque due to the Jewish Passover. The holiday has arrived with its usual threats against the Muslim holy site, but this year is different as the excavations continue. Every year the threats against the Mosque are increased by Jewish fundamentalist groups, while vigils are undertaken to protect it.

There have been several instances in which the Israeli forces that surround the East Jerusalem mosque have allowed Jewish groups inside, but this year the Israeli Supreme Court issued a ruling against it.

The Islamic Waqf is keeping guard in hopes of preventing any attacks on Al Aqsa, which the Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, said there are no lack of this year. Several Jewish officials adopted plans to meet at 11:00 am in front of the doors of the Mosque and “make the appropriate decision from there.” But it seemed that the precautions of the Waqf did some good. Nonviolent Palestinian demonstrators stood out front and throughout the Old City's alleyways with flags and held early prayers.

Head of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, whom Israeli forces have arrested, tried, and banned from Jerusalem for leading the nonviolent resistance against excavations, described the Passover events as the “boyishness of the occupiers.” He said directly, “You have no right to one grain of soil.”

In a related note, hundreds of Palestinians held nonviolent marches throughout Monday in the Old City of East Jerusalem and its Wadi Joz neighborhood where the protest tent is housing the ongoing sit-in against Israeli excavations.