Hundreds of settlers forced their way into the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday, for the second consecutive day.
1,035 settlers, led by Israeli ministers and MPs, stormed the Mosque since the early morning hours and carried out provocative tours and Talmudic rituals in its courtyards on the third day of the Sukkot holiday.
Many settlers also carried plants and leaves as part of the Sukkot rituals during their tours of the Old City of Jerusalem and at the Aqsa Mosque’s gates in the morning.
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence at the entrances of the Aqsa Mosque, restricting Palestinian access to the site, and stormed the Al-Qibli prayer hall, under the pretext of carrying out a search operation.
Meanwhile, Israeli police officers assaulted and harassed Palestinian pro-Aqsa activists during their presence at the entrances of the Aqsa Mosque, especially near the Silsila Gate, arresting three of them, including: Hanadi Al-Halawani, Aida Al-Sidawi, and Nizam Abu Romuz.
Earlier Sunday, at least 867 settlers entered the Mosque in groups through its Maghariba Gate and toured its courtyards under tight police protection during morning and afternoon tours.
The Israeli occupation forces have also imposed tight movement and entry restrictions on Muslim worshipers at the Aqsa Mosque’s entrances and gates since the early morning hours, especially when they tried to enter the Mosque for dawn prayers.
