Pictures- Incursions and prayers conducted by settlers in Al-Aqsa Mosque on the anniversary of the so-called “Destruction of the Temple”
Hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, while marches and tours were held at its gates and in the Old City of Jerusalem in commemoration of the so-called "Destruction of the Temple".
According to the Islamic Awqaf Department, 1336 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the morning and afternoon break-in sessions, in the form of successive groups through Dung Gate.
Hundreds of settlers held their collective prayers in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially in the area of Al-Rahmeh, Al-Qataneen and Al-Silsileh gates. The Israeli police ignored the prayers and provocative actions of the settlers and provided them with full protection by escorting them, deploying in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa as well as heavy presence at Al-Aqsa gates.
The settlers assaulted the locals, merchants and journalists in Al-Qataneen market adjacent to Al-Aqsa. The soldiers also attacked the worshipers and citizens near Lions Gate to protect the settlers who had prayed in the area. The settlers also tried to attack Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, while he was in the area, and also attempted to obstruct a funeral that was entering Al-Aqsa.
The Israeli police arrested Islam Bader Skafi, 14, from Al-Aqsa Mosque after he raised the Palestinian flag, and arrested Hamza Nabulsi in front of Lions Gate, and Bassam Abu Nab and Mohammed Abu Nab.
On Saturday evening, settlers organized intensive marches at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, held special prayers on the anniversary of the "Destruction of the Temple," as well as large marches in the streets adjacent to the walls of the Old City.
The Islamic Awqaf Department said in a statement that the settlers performed public prayers and Talmudic rituals in the courtyards of the mosque protected by hundreds of Israeli police and special forces that were heavily armed, which imposed a military cordon on the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and blocked the movement of worshipers, in response to calls made by extremist Jewish organizations through their websites and media channels over the past few days, within an unprecedented Judaization program based on doubling the number of extremists intruded into the mosque in what is known as the "destruction of the alleged temple," which received strong support and encouragement from the Israeli government which is working hard to change the historical and legal situation in Al Aqsa Mosque / Haram Al-Sharif.
