Extremist Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque amid Jewish New Year Celebrations
The settlers “carried out provocative tours in the courtyards of the mosque,” Al-Mayadeen reported.
Video footage posted on social media shows settlers touring the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in “biblical white clothing,” as described by Shehab news agency.
Local sources, as cited by Al-Mayadeen, informed that Israeli security forces implemented stringent security measures around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, effectively preventing the entry of worshippers, students, and individuals under the age of 50.
The Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem disclosed that the Israeli military had taken steps to clear the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound before the settler incursion. Two individuals were subsequently apprehended within the compound and were later transported to undisclosed locations, according to Al-Mayadeen.
The Jewish New Year commenced on September 15 and extends for a duration of two days.
Shehab news agency reported that during Jewish holidays, "Temple groups" leverage the opportunity to engage in various Talmudic and Torah rituals within the Al-Aqsa Mosque, including prayers, supplications, fasting, sacrifices, and other activities with the aim of Judaizing the site.
Nasser al-Hadmi, the leader of the Jerusalem Committee against Judaization, voiced concerns that Israel is striving to establish a "new reality" within the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
This latest incident at the sacred location coincides with a noticeable increase in settler-related violence against Palestinians throughout the occupied West Bank. Israeli officials have publicly acknowledged that these actions are taking place with the tacit approval of the government.
Additionally, this intrusion occurs within the context of ongoing efforts by Israel to annex the entire West Bank through a systematic process of land appropriation and the expansion of illegal settlements, a campaign spearheaded by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other government officials.
Source: Agencies
