On Wednesday, Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem.
According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, witnesses reported that dozens of settlers entered the mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate and carried out provocative tours while performing Talmudic rituals in the sacred site.
In a related development, Israeli forces conducted vehicle searches and imposed fines on Palestinian residents near Bab al-Sahira, a gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is one of the holiest sites in Islam and holds deep religious and political significance for Muslims and Jews.
It is part of a larger area known as the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews. While Muslims view the site as the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina, Jews consider it their holiest site, believed to be the location of the ancient Jewish temples.
The compound has been a flashpoint for conflict between Israelis and Palestinians for decades. Israeli settlers, often accompanied by police, frequently visit the site, asserting claims to the area based on religious and historical grounds.
Palestinians see these visits and many in the Muslim world as provocations and violations of the delicate status quo, which allows Muslims to pray at the site. In contrast, Jews and others are permitted to visit but not pray there.
Tensions surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque have escalated in recent years, with clashes frequently erupting between Palestinian worshippers and Israeli forces.
Palestinians see Israeli settlers’ presence at the site, backed by Israeli police, as part of a broader strategy to assert Israeli control over Jerusalem and diminish the Muslim character of the city. The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly called for maintaining the historical status quo to avoid further unrest.
Israel’s security forces, in turn, justify their presence as a measure to ensure order and prevent potential violence, citing security concerns. However, this approach has led to repeated clashes, arrests, and a cycle of violence that fuels broader Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
