In a chilling message, ISIS has incited its followers to ignite churches and synagogues across the United States and Europe over the Easter weekend. This hateful command comes as a response to the closure of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. The extremist group’s appeal was published in the latest edition of its propaganda publication, al-Naba, which was released on Thursday.
“In light of the tragic closure of the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque, Muslims around the world—those who long to support the site associated with the Prophet’s Night Journey—are called upon to rise and set fire to Jewish synagogues found across America, Europe, Russia, India, and beyond,” declared ISIS in a translation of the al-Naba edition.
The inflammatory rhetoric extended to synagogues in Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, and Syria, with the group claiming that the locations of these sites are well-known and publicly accessible.
In addition to targeting synagogues, ISIS also urged attacks on Christian churches.
The radical publication further incited violence against “Jewish gatherings” worldwide, encouraging followers to mimic the acts of the so-called “Sydney Heroes.” This reference alludes to the Hanukkah terror attacks in Australia in 2025, which resulted in 16 deaths, including one attacker, and 40 injuries.
The twisted propaganda paper also called for attacks on “Jewish gatherings” around the world, ordering its supporters to “emulate the actions of the ‘Sydney Heroes,’” a disturbing reference to 2025’s Hannukkah terror attacks in Australia that left 16 dead, including one of the gunmen, and 40 wounded.
ISIS also claimed to have caused 60 casualties in “15 operations” over the past week.
Israeli authorities closed al-Aqsa mosque—the third-holiest site in Islam—in late February, citing the “security situation” amid the Israeli-US warn in Iran.
Authorities have also banned mass gatherings at other religious sites such as the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Muslims call the hilltop that houses al-Aqsa the Noble Sanctuary, while Jewish people refer to it as the Temple Mount.
Palestinian authorities have hit out at the closures to Muslims, as Jewish groups have called for access to the shuttered site to hold Passover rituals in April.
In the same newsletter, ISIS also discusses Palestinian prisoners and their experiences inside Israeli jails.
It comes days after Israel on Monday introduced a new controversial death penalty law that makes execution by hanging the default punishment for murderers who kill “with the intent to deny the existence of the State of Israel.”
The language has been accused of targeting Palestinian militants, while amounting to a de facto exclusion of Israelis who kill Palestinians.
