Hundreds of Israeli settlers break into al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection

Hundreds of Israeli settlers have stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied East al-Quds to mark a Jewish holiday, in yet another provocative move against Palestinian worshipers.

The Palestinian Information Center, citing the al-Qastal news website, which reports events in al-Quds, said that at least 788 illegal Zionist settlers broke into the compound on Tuesday and toured its courtyards under the protection of the regime’s forces during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Some of the settlers performed rituals and Talmudic prayers in the mosque’s courtyards, as others received lectures from rabbis about the Temple Mount during their tour at the holy site.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli police forces escorted groups of Israeli settlers into the al-Aqsa courtyard through the Moroccan Gate, also known as the Mughrabi Gate.

Muslim worshipers, for their part, spread through their Mosque’s courtyards, performing prayers, reading the holy Qur’an and chanting religious slogans in protest at the settlers’ desecration of the holy site.

Earlier in the day, Israeli police imposed strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the mosque.

Dozens of Palestinians performed prayers on the streets leading to the mosque after being prevented from entering the courtyard. Muslim worshipers also chanted slogans in protest at the settlers’ desecration of the holy site.

SS