Extremist Settlers Continue Provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque Under Protection of Israeli Forces
The intruders performed rituals that violated the sanctity of the mosque, while Israeli forces imposed a siege on the site and restricted the entry of Muslim worshippers for the 100th day in a row, Al-Mayadeen reported on Sunday.
According to eyewitnesses, the extremists entered the mosque through the Moroccan Gate, located at the western wall of the site. They were met with minimal resistance from Israeli forces, who were deployed at the entrances to the Old City in occupied al-Quds and the gates leading to al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli forces prevented many Palestinians from accessing the site, reducing the number of worshippers inside and outside the mosque.
Some of the Palestinians who were denied entry were also attacked by Israeli forces, forcing them to pray in the nearby Wadi al-Joz neighborhood.
The mosque has been subjected to frequent incursions by Israeli extremists, as part of a systematic policy by Israeli authorities to divide the site between Muslims and Jews. This policy aims to limit the access of Muslims to certain areas of the site at specific times of the day, while allowing Israeli extremists to enter the site with impunity.
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To implement this policy, Israeli authorities have imposed age restrictions on Muslim worshippers, allowing only elderly people to enter the site. Israeli forces have also installed barbed wire and barriers at the gates and roads of the mosque, maintaining a heavy presence on the site.
The violation of al-Aqsa Mosque and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are key elements of the discriminatory Israeli policies. These policies triggered the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza to launch a massive operation on October 7. Despite repeated warnings from the leaders of the Resistance, Israeli authorities continued to ignore these warnings, disrespect one of Islam's most sacred sites, and assault Muslim worshippers.
