2,205 settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque on the sixth day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday
Hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, the sixth day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Jerusalem reported that the number of intruders reached 2,205, including 1,158 during the morning incursions periods and 1,047 during the afternoon.
The intrusions were led by members of the Knesset and senior rabbis, who led collective and public prayers inside Al-Aqsa Mosque. The number of settlers in a single group exceeded 180. This was in accordance with prior pledges from the occupation police to extremist "Temple" groups to enter the mosque every ten minutes and to allow six groups to be present simultaneously inside Al-Aqsa.
The intrusions took place in two shifts:
• Morning: from 7:00 to 11:30 a.m.
• Afternoon: from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
The intrusions took place through the Dung Gate, whose keys have been controlled by the occupation authorities since the occupation of Jerusalem.
The center explained that Knesset members Zvi Sukot from the Religious Zionism Party and Amit Halevi from the Likud Party stormed Al-Aqsa and performed prayers inside it. The settlers' cameras documented Sukkot offering plant sacrifices in the eastern area, while Halevi gave a speech in which he said that he prayed "asking for victory." Sukot said in his speech that "since what was called the Al-Aqsa Flood, thousands of Jews pray here daily," according to what he said in a videotaped speech.
During the morning and afternoon incursion periods, several instances of plant offerings were recorded by senior rabbis and numerous settlers in various areas of Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly in the eastern part. Settlers also performed collective and public prayers, forming circles of dancing and singing. The Al-Aqsa courtyards witnessed applause, jumping, and singing in celebration of the Sukkot holiday.
Settlers also held marches and collective prayers at the outer gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, during which they raised flags of the alleged "Temple" and carried plant offerings. They placed loudspeakers at the gates of Al-Aqsa, particularly around the Lions Gate and the Hutta Gate, and performed prayers.
Hundreds of them stormed the Bab al-Rahma cemetery near the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa and performed their prayers there.
The occupation authorities continued to impose restrictions on the entry of Muslims to Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing young men and women from entering during both raids. They also harassed worshippers inside—mostly elderly—by restricting their seating and preventing them from entering certain areas during the raids.
Hundreds of thousands of settlers also invaded Al-Buraq Square, performing their prayers and rituals for the Sukkot holiday.
