JERUSALEM: Dozens of colonists, led by extremist Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick, made an incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, accompanied by the occupation police, in a move that has heightened tensions in the region. The group entered through the Mughrabi Gate, engaging in provocative tours and performing Talmudic rituals within the courtyards of the sacred site.
According to Qatar News Agency, the incident is part of a series of incursions reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. Their monthly report noted 22 such violations by settlers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque throughout December, underscoring a pattern of tension and conflict over the holy site.
The incursion comes amid a backdrop of increased military measures by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at the gates of Al-Aqsa and the entrances to the Old City. These actions have been part of broader military operations since the onset of what has been described as a genocide in the Gaza Strip and aggression in the West Bank. The heightened security measures have further strained the already volatile situation, as access to the mosque and the surrounding areas has been increasingly restricted.