Al-Quds, MINA – Around 500 Jewish settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday morning, the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, under heavy Israeli police protection and amid tightened restrictions on Palestinian worshipers and increased security measures around Jerusalem’s Old City, the Palestinian Information Center reports.
Jerusalem sources reported that the settlers broke into the Mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate, led by former Israeli Knesset member Moshe Feiglin, who performed Talmudic rituals inside the Aqsa courtyards and carried what are referred to as “plant offerings” under the protection of Israeli forces.
The incursions come amid continued escalation during Sukkot, which has seen more settlers breaking into Aqsa to perform Talmudic prayers and rituals inside the compound.
Around 1,500 settlers and rabbis stormed Aqsa on the second day of the holiday, performing Talmudic prayers and rituals, particularly near Bab al-Qattanin, or the Cotton Merchants’ Gate. The incursions also included the introduction of what are referred to as “plant offerings,” chanting, dancing, and collective religious rituals inside the courtyards.
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On the third day of the holiday, around 1,271 settlers broke into the Aqsa Mosque compound, led by Israeli Army Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
They performed Talmudic rituals in the eastern part of the compound under Israeli police protection. On the fourth day, hundreds of settlers stormed the Mosque compound under heavy police protection, performing Talmudic prayers and rituals, singing collectively, and clapping inside the courtyards.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in the Damascus Gate area were subjected to attacks amid tighter restrictions on Palestinian movement and access to the Old City and Aqsa.
The incursions have coincided with heightened Israeli measures around Aqsa and the Old City, including restrictions on the entry and movement of Palestinian worshipers, as attempts to establish Jewish religious rituals inside the Mosque compound continue during the holiday season.
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According to figures from the Jerusalem Governorate, more than 40,661 settlers forced their way into the Aqsa Mosque compound from the beginning of the year through the end of August, while around 800 orders barring Jerusalemites from the Mosque had been issued from the beginning of the year through early September.
Sukkot continues through October 2 as part of the Jewish holiday season, which has seen an escalation in settler incursions and Israeli measures in Jerusalem and at Aqsa throughout September.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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