On Tuesday morning, hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, an action that has further escalated tensions in the already volatile region. The incursion occurred under the heavy protection of Israeli troops, allowing settlers to perform religious rituals at the site, sparking outrage among Palestinian Muslims present.
According to the Jordan-run Islamic Endowments Department, approximately 1,600 Israeli settlers entered the complex, conducting Talmudic rituals. Witnesses also reported that some settlers were seen waving Israeli flags during the incursion, further inflaming the situation.
The entry of the settlers was reportedly in response to a call from extremist Jewish groups to commemorate Tisha B’Av, an annual Jewish fast day that marks a series of historical calamities in Jewish history. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, noted that the settlers accessed the mosque through the Al-Mugharbah Gate, a route frequently used during such events.
Israeli forces closed off roads leading to Jerusalem’s Old City, deploying hundreds of soldiers and effectively transforming the area into a military zone. Strict restrictions were imposed on Palestinians attempting to enter the mosque, heightening the already tense atmosphere.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, regarded as the third holiest site in Islam, is located in East Jerusalem, which has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Despite Israel’s annexation of the entire city in 1980, the international community has not recognized this move, and the status of Jerusalem remains one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
