RAMALLAH — Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed on Sunday into Al-Aqsa Mosque heavily guarded by occupation police force who attacked several worshippers.
The Islamic Endowment directorate at Al-Quds said in a press release that about 600 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during what is dubbed as “Sukkot” Jewish holiday.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is closely monitoring this serious Israeli “systematic and premeditated” escalation in the incursions of settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque and “the ongoing escalation in performing Talmudic rituals, prayers and provocative marches.”
The Ministry added that it “views the targeting of Al-Aqsa within the framework of a settler-colonial plan designed to Judaize Jerusalem after its historical, political, demographic and legal reality, especially in light of the extremist right-wing coalition.”
The Ministry stressed that “the international community, as well as the UN and its relevant agencies have his far failed to respect and enforce their relevant resolutions, thereby bearing responsibility for their lack of will on implement international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Sukkot is a week-long holiday, which started Sept. 29 and continues until Oct. 6, ending a season of Jewish holidays that started by observing the Rosh Hashanah (New Year) holiday on Sept.15.
In a statement, the Jordan-run Islamic Waqf Department said Israeli forces closed the Al-Mughrabi Gate, southwest of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, “after allowing 602 Jewish extremists” into the site.
According to witnesses, Israeli settlers entered the site in groups. The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate published a video on its Facebook account of Jewish settlers trying to enter animal sacrifices inside the complex.
Israeli police began allowing the settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in 2003, despite repeated condemnations from Palestinians.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the “Temple Mount,” claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israeli occupation forces tightened restrictions in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday as dozens of Israeli settlers, protected by the police, broke into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Palestinian News Agency WAFA reported.
Israeli forces’ presence within the Al-Aqsa compound notably increased, obstructing the movement of Palestinian Muslim worshippers to facilitate the settlers’ entry.
The current status quo in Jerusalem allows freedom of worship exclusively for Muslims at the site, while followers of other religions are permitted to visit without engaging in any religious rituals.
Settlers attacks against Palestinians have increased in both scope and scale since Israel’s three-time prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, returned to office at the head of the most rightwing government in Israeli history.
Earlier, a UN report stated on Friday that Israel has been violating the Palestinians’ self-determination rights through prolonged occupation, settlement activities, and annexation of Palestinian territory since 1967. — Agencies
