Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa mosque this morning, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.
Occupation police closed the Bab al-Rahma Chapel and surrounded worshipers in the mosque, in preparation for 250 settlers’ storming of the courtyards. The settlers were led by extremist Knesset deputy Itamar Ben-Gvir and hardline Rabbi Yehudah Glick.
Furthermore, Occupation police arrested four Palestinian men near Bab al-Silsila. Their identities are not yet known.
It is expected that extremist groups will organise a ‘Flags March’ in Jerusalem today to commemorate the so-called unification of Jerusalem or the anniversary of the annexation of the eastern part of the city during the June 1967 war.
This morning, in preparation, Israeli occupation authorities deployed 3,000 soldiers across occupied East Jerusalem.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said in a statement that occupation forces stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque in large numbers. Occupation forces surrounded worshipers and restricted their exit, in preparation for the settlers’ storming of the mosque’s vicinity.
Daily incursions into al-Aqsa aim at creating a new reality in the area. Groups storming al-Aqsa select specific areas of the mosque and its vicinity for maximum effect. Incursions are timed to interrupt prayer times and occur in the morning and evening.
