2201 settlers storm Al-Aqsa…assaults, arrests and tension in the courtyards
On Sunday, thousands of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, in memory of the so-called “destruction of the Temple,” amid strict measures that prevented worshipers under the age of 50 from reaching Al-Aqsa.
The Department of Islamic Endowments stated that 2,201 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque, they were distributed into 36 groups, and each group ranged between 30-90 settlers.
The Endowments Department stated that 1,743 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa during the morning period from 7-11 in the morning, and 458 settlers in the afternoon from 2:30-3:30.
Since dawn, special forces stormed Al-Aqsa and stationed in the eastern region, and before seven o'clock, large forces stormed Al-Aqsa "special forces, officers, and intelligence" and were distributed in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa and along the path of the incursions.
The settlers performed public and collective prayers, during the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the prayers were concentrated in the eastern region at “Al-Rahma Gate” and at “Lions Gate”, as well as during the exit from “al-Silsileh Gate”.
During the incursions, the settlers also chanted insults to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and said, "We will demolish Al-Aqsa and expel you from it and build the Temple...the place is ours."
The forces attacked and pushed the worshipers immediately after the extremist Knesset member Itamar Ben Gavir stormed Al-Aqsa, and tension prevailed in the mosque during that, and the settlers who were in his group raised the Israeli flag at al-Silsileh Gate.
Preventing entry of worshipers
Since dawn, the police stationed at the gates of Al-Aqsa have prevented worshipers under the age of 50 from entering Al-Aqsa, and have also held the identities of those who were allowed to enter.
The police deployed at the gates of Al-Aqsa and its roads since dawn, and iron barriers have been erected at the entrances to the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Worshipers performed the dawn and noon prayers at the gates of Al-Aqsa, after being prevented from entering.
Settlers’ prayers and attacks outside Al-Aqsa
As for the gates of Al-Aqsa from the outside, the settlers performed prayers and raised flags.
The settlers attacked the Palestinians while they were at the gates of Al-Aqsa, using pepper gas, beating with sticks of flags, insults, and targeting press crews to obstruct their work.
A settler assaulted the photojournalist, Muhammad Asho, while he was in the al-Silsileh Gate area, while the police arrested the photographer and beat him.
After midnight, the settlers also carried out a march that roamed the streets of Jerusalem, all the way to the gates of Al-Aqsa from the outside and to Al-Buraq Square.
Arrests
The forces carried out separate arrests from Al-Aqsa and its gates throughout the day. Lawyers for the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Muhammad Mahmoud and Firas Al-Jabrini, explained that the forces carried out separate arrests, and among them were: Bilal Miari, Muntaha Amara, photojournalist Ahmed Gharabla, photojournalist Muhammad Asho, Ilham Al-Jo’beh and Saleh Al-Fakhouri, Khattab Azar, Muhammad Abu Al-Hummus, Suhaib Hijazi, and Ayham Jo’beh.
The forces also arrested Nader Al-Afghani from Al-Aqsa, Hajj Abu Yasser Salaymeh, a woman from Al-Silsileh Gate area, and two young men from Al-Aqsa during the afternoon incursions period. raids.
The police released most of the detainees on the condition that they be expelled from Al-Aqsa or the Old City for a period ranging from five days to two weeks, while extending the detention of the boy, Saleh Al-Fakhouri.
The occupation police and the "Temple Organizations" announced last weekend a program to secure the settlers' incursions on the memory of the so-called “destruction of the Temple."
On Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced that settlers, including Knesset members, would not be prevented from storming Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday.
