Dozens of Israeli settlers and members of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) broke into al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards under the protection of the Israeli police.
According to Quds Press news agency 53 settlers stormed the courtyard of al-Aqsa Mosque from Bab al-Magharbeh which has been under full Israeli control since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967 before the Israeli police closed the gate at 11 am.
Quds Press pointed out that the tours included some of the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque within a specific route ending with Bab al-Silsileh where the settlers performed Talmudic rites and prayers after exiting it noting that other incursions were conducted after the noon prayer.
1599 Israelis broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque during February 2017 including 118 soldiers and Shin Bet members and 517 students and guides.
