’Zionist Israeli’ Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

’Israeli’ Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, Army Closes It in front of Palestinians

“Israeli” troops forcibly stormed the al-Aqsa Holy mosque compound on Wednesday and deployed heavily around the entrances, preventing Palestinian worshipers from accessing the area.

According to witnesses, “Israeli” Occupation troops entered al-Aqsa through al-Maghareba Gate and the Silsila Gate.

They further denied all Palestinians, including women and children, entry to the area.
Around 500 students who study at religious schools in the al-Aqsa compound were also denied access to their schools, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, a group of Zionist settlers stormed to the area at around 8 am through the al-Maghareba Gate.

Around 40 settlers toured the compound while listening to lectures on the history of the so-called “Temple Mount,” Mahmoud Abul Atta, coordinator of the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, said in press statements.

“The settlers were backed by an “Israeli” police rapid-intervention force, which restricted the movement of Palestinian students at the site,” said Abul Atta.
Abul Atta called on Palestinian Muslims to flock to the holy site to prevent a possible bid by “Israel” fundamentalists to storm the site in line with recent threats to this effect by certain “Israeli” Rabbis.

In response, dozens of Palestinian worshipers who were in the Holy mosque hurled the Zionist settlers with stones, before being chased, and attacked by “Israeli” forces.
They were then held in the southern mosque and attacked with pepper spray, witnesses said.

In parallel, hundreds of Palestinian worshipers gathered near the main gates leading to al-Aqsa in protest against restricted access to the area.
“Israeli” officers hit several people, including women, with clubs near the Bab al-Huta.
A series of recent desecration by “Israeli” rightists have created a sense of fear among al-Aqsa authorities about control of the holy site.
Head of the Islamic Higher Commission, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, warned last week that repeated incursions by “Israeli” extremists “confirm Israeli ambitions and the risks to the mosque.”
He pointed to the division of the Ibrahimi mosque in al-Khalil, which is now separated into two parts.

The compound, which sits just above the al-Buraq Wall, houses both the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.