Pictures- hundreds of settlers storm Al-Aqsa, perform prayers and raise the occupation’s flag
Hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in commemoration of the occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem. They performed mass prayers, performed songs and dances, and raised the Israeli flag amid attacks on the Islamic Awqaf employees and restrictions on the entrance to the mosque.
According to the Islamic Awqaf Department, 1042 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the morning break-in session through Dung Gate, amid intensive deployment of special forces, police and officers in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa.
The Islamic Awqaf said that hundreds of settlers held mass public prayers at Al Aqsa, near Al-Rahmeh, Al-Qataneen and Al-Silsileh gates, where they chanted their prayers and landed on the ground and formed their own rings, amid repeated attacks on the employees of the Islamic Awqaf and the guards of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The department also said that the forces provided full protection to the settlers during the storming of the mosque. A group of settlers also raised the Israeli flag in its courtyards opposite the Dome of the Rock and published pictures and recordings to them through social media sites.
The Awqaf Department said that the special forces assaulted the director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani and the employees of Al-Awqaf during a large prayer for settlers intruding to the mosqueat Al-Silsileh Gate.
The occupation forces arrested Al-Aqsa Mosque’s guard Mohammad Salhi and a boy from the courtyards of Al-Aqsa, and severely beat them before transferring them to the interrogation center.
The occupation police tried to impose restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshipers to Al-Aqsa in the morning, holding identities on the doors, and preventing some of them from entering.
Hundreds of settlers organized marches outside the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem, especially in Al-Wad Street. During this time, they organized dance and singing rings and groups of settlers organized prayers at the gates of Al-Aqsa in a provocative manner.
The occupation forces have been deployed since the early morning in the streets of the Old City and on its gates and roads, and preparations for the annual settlers’ flags march organized in memory of the occupation of Jerusalem.
