JERUSALEM: A group of settlers entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday morning, an action that heightened tensions in the already volatile area. The settlers were escorted by Occupation Police, and they performed Talmudic rituals amidst heightened security measures that restricted the entry of Muslim worshipers. The military presence was visibly increased at all gates of the mosque, as well as at the surrounding entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem.
According to Qatar News Agency, the storming occurred on the fifth day of the Hebrew Hanukkah holiday. This period has been marked by calls from settlers to intensify their presence at the site, coinciding with the ongoing holiday celebrations, which are set to continue through the end of the week. The increased activities of settlers at the mosque compound have added to the tensions in the area.
The incident comes in the wake of intensified Israeli military actions against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, which began in October 2023. In response, occupation forces have implemented stricter security measures at the entrances to Al-Aqsa Mosque and throughout the Old City, further complicating access for Muslim worshipers.