Middle Easy Monitor / July 29, 2024
Scores of extremist Jewish settlers escorted by Israeli police officers desecrated Al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards on Monday morning, amid tight restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshippers to the holy site, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported.
According to local sources, dozens of settlers entered the mosque in groups through the Maghariba Gate and toured the sanctuary. While they were there, the settlers received lectures from rabbis about the alleged “Temple Mount” and a number of them performed provocative Talmudic prayers.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation police force imposed tight movement and entry restrictions on Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque’s entrances and prevented many of them from entering the holy site.
Under the status quo, non-Muslims may visit Al-Aqsa Mosque but cannot pray therein. However, Jewish settlers have been increasingly defying the ban, something that the Palestinians consider a serious provocation, fearing that the occupation regime intends to take over the Islamic holy site, as has already been done at Hebron’s [Al-Khalil’s] ’Ibrahimi Mosque.
