Occupied Jerusalem witnessed a dangerous and unprecedented field development today, Friday, as a group of settlers managed to storm the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and bring in 'vegetable offerings' for the first time since the occupation of the city in 1967. Local sources reported that nine settlers stormed the courtyards carrying what is known as the 'bread offering,' in a move described by the Jerusalem Governorate as a dangerous escalation that violates the sanctity of the place and aims to impose a new reality.
Field sources stated that a state of panic and tension prevailed among the worshipers, especially since the incursion occurred during the peak of the Friday afternoon prayer, when the courtyards were crowded with women and children. The settlers managed to reach the area of the Dome of the Rock, which is very close to the women's prayer area, causing a state of terror and protest among those present before the guards intervened.
Regarding the details of the entry operation, sources explained that the extremist group used the element of surprise by entering quickly and suddenly from the direction of Bab Al-Ghawanmeh, located in the northwestern corner of the mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque guards tried to confront the intruders and prevent them from advancing, but hand-to-hand clashes occurred, resulting in two guards being injured to varying degrees as a result of the settlers directly assaulting them.
Reports indicated that the offerings brought in are related to what is called the Hebrew 'Feast of Shavuot' (Descent of the Torah), which are pieces of bread stained with blood used in certain Talmudic religious rituals. The success of the settlers in bringing these materials into the heart of Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered a security and historical breach, as previous attempts were thwarted at the outer gates by the stationed guards.
This escalation comes after a series of incitement calls launched by the so-called extremist 'Temple organizations,' which urged settlers to intensify incursions during this period. Observers considered that choosing Friday for the incursion represents a change in the strategy of extremist groups, as incursions were previously limited to Sundays through Thursdays and under strict protection from the occupation police through Bab Al-Maghariba.
Despite the Israeli police later intervening to remove the settlers and take them for questioning, the situation in the Old City and around Al-Aqsa Mosque remains noticeably tense. The occupation authorities impose strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinians, including thorough inspections and the confiscation of personal IDs at the gates, coinciding with the deployment of security reinforcements on the roads leading to the mosque.
It is worth noting that last year witnessed a similar attempt to bring in animal offerings through Bab Al-Ghawanmeh, but the vigilance of the guards prevented the settlers from reaching the inner courtyards at that time. Jerusalemites confirm that the repetition of these attempts and their development into bringing in vegetable offerings today reflects a green light given by the Israeli government to extremist groups to carry out their rituals inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.
This incursion represents a remarkable and unprecedented development in terms of timing, entry mechanism, and the nature of the materials brought into the mosque.
שתף את דעתך
In a first since 1967.. Settlers storm Al-Aqsa with 'vegetable offerings' and injure two guards