Dozens of Jewish settlers on Wednesday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem under police escort.
According to the Islamic Awqaf Department at least 53 settlers entered the Mosque through al-Maghariba Gate in different groups and toured its courtyards under police guard.
Some settlers also tried to perform Jewish prayers in the eastern area of the Mosque.
Meanwhile 23 police officers entered and toured the Mosque’s domed prayer buildings.
The Aqsa Mosque is exposed to daily desecration by Jewish settlers and police forces in the morning and the afternoon except on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Israeli police close al-Maghariba Gate which is used by Jews to enter the Mosque at 10:30 am after the settlers complete their morning tours at the holy site. Later in the afternoon the same gate is reopened for evening tours by settlers.
During the presence of settlers inside the Mosque compound entry restrictions are imposed on Muslim worshipers at the entrances leading to the Mosque and their IDs are seized until they leave the holy place.