1,218 settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on the fourth day of Passover
Hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, the fourth day of Passover, under heavy protection from Israeli occupation forces.
The number of intruders reached 1,218 extremist settlers and religious institute students, divided into two periods: 766 in the morning and 452 in the afternoon.
The incursions took place through the Dung Gate, whose keys have been controlled by the Israeli occupation authorities since the occupation of Jerusalem. The incursions took place in successive groups, each comprising between 120 and 200 settlers, with an interval of no more than 20 minutes between each group, contributing to the increased number of intruders.
On the eve of Passover, the Israeli police announced their intention to regulate the entry of settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque at a rate of one group every ten minutes, with the aim of increasing the number of participants in the incursions.
During the raid, settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the mosque's courtyards, formed singing and dancing circles, and chanted collective prayers. Some of them prostrated themselves on the ground in several locations inside the mosque, a blatant violation of its sanctity.
Occupation forces continued to restrict Palestinian entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing hundreds of worshippers, particularly young men and women, from entering, demanding that they return after 3:30 p.m., the end of the raids.
The area surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque also witnessed similar violations. Settlers performed religious rituals at the Al-Buraq Wall, and hundreds stormed the Bab al-Rahma Cemetery adjacent to the eastern wall, performing collective prayers inside. Some deliberately walked on graves.
The violations extended to the outer gates of the mosque, where scenes of religious rituals, dancing and singing circles, and the raising of the Israeli flag were repeated. In addition, insults and provocative gestures were directed at Palestinian passersby and merchants in the area.
These incursions occur daily, with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays of each week, Islamic holidays, and the last ten days of Ramadan. They do not overlap with Jewish holidays.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported that the number of settlers who stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the four days of Passover (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) reached 4,604, amid escalating calls for the incursions to continue tomorrow, Thursday, which marks the last day of incursions during this holiday.
