Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, under the protection of Israeli police, according to Palestinian sources.
Eyewitnesses reported to the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA) that the settlers entered the mosque compound in groups, conducting provocative tours and performing Talmudic rituals within the sacred site, which holds deep significance for Muslims worldwide.
The Israeli police provided security for the settlers during the incursion.
WAFA also noted that Israeli authorities transformed the Old City of Jerusalem into a military zone, with hundreds of police officers deployed at close intervals, particularly around the gates leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Eyewitnesses added that Israeli police intensified their military presence at the entrances to the Old City and Al-Aqsa, imposing severe restrictions on Palestinian worshippers trying to access the site.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, is frequently at the center of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.
The mosque is located in a compound known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, making it a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The frequent incursions by Israeli settlers, often accompanied by Israeli security forces, are viewed by Palestinians as deliberate provocations aimed at altering the status quo of the site. These actions often escalate into broader confrontations, contributing to the ongoing cycle of violence and unrest in the region.
Such incidents occur against a backdrop of longstanding disputes over sovereignty, religious rights, and access to sacred spaces in Jerusalem, a city with profound historical and spiritual significance to multiple faiths.
The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly called for the preservation of the status quo at Al-Aqsa and has warned against actions that could further inflame tensions in the already volatile region.
