Hundreds of extremist settlers stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque this Thursday morning, under tight security protection from the Israeli occupation forces. The intruders carried out extensive provocative tours throughout the mosque, coinciding with what is called the 'anniversary of the Temple's destruction,' amidst Zionist calls to intensify their presence within the Noble Sanctuary.
Sources in Jerusalem Governorate confirmed that the number of intruders exceeded 1300 settlers within a few hours, with groups continuing to flow through the Mughrabi Gate. The sources clarified that the occupation police provided unprecedented facilities to the intruders, allowing the number of individuals in a single group to reach approximately 150 settlers at one time.
The mosque courtyards witnessed the public performance of Talmudic rituals, including what is known as 'epic prostration' in the eastern area, and the wearing of religious 'tefillin' scrolls. The settlers also chanted hymns and prayers loudly, and engaged in provocative singing and dancing, which sparked intense anger among the steadfast Palestinians.
Prominent Israeli political figures participated in these incursions, including Knesset member from the Likud party, 'Amit Halevi.' This official participation reflects government support for policies aimed at changing the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and attempts to impose temporal and spatial division in a realistic and coercive manner.
In contrast, the occupation forces transformed the Old City and the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque into a military barracks, imposing a complete closure and strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshippers. The occupation authorities deployed their elements heavily at the gates and in the squares to secure the settlers' routes, while preventing hundreds of young men from reaching the mosque to perform prayers.
Field sources reported that the occupation forces severely beat a number of citizens and worshippers who tried to confront the incursions or be present in the vicinity of the mosque. Only a very limited number of worshippers were able to perform dawn prayers inside the mosque, due to the military restrictions that began in the late hours of the night.
The Jerusalem Governorate warned of the danger of plans led by extremist 'Temple' groups, which aim to mobilize more than 5,000 settlers to storm the mosque during this day. The Governorate stressed that all these measures aim to obliterate the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city, affirming that Al-Aqsa, in its entire area, does not accept division or partnership.
The blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, with its full area of 144 dunams, is an exclusive Islamic right, and all occupation measures to change its identity are null and void.
שתף את דעתך
Over 1300 settlers storm Al-Aqsa on the anniversary of the 'destruction of the Temple' amid attacks on worshippers