OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)
A large number of Jewish settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem on Sunday morning under the protection of the Israeli police on the first day of the so-called “Purim Mishmar” holiday.
The Islamic Endowments Department reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Bab el-Maghariba gate, under strict guard by the Israeli occupation police. Extremist settlers disguised themselves as Temple priests to emphasize the extremist Jewish religious presence in Al-Aqsa.
The Endowments Department added that the settlers carried out provocative tours in its courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of the occupation police.
The police forces also stormed the Qibli Mosque to secure the settlers’ incursion of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Eyewitnesses reported that the occupation police tightened measures at the gates of Al-Aqsa and the main gates of the Old City of Jerusalem, preventing young people from entering the holy site at the time.
It is expected that Al-Aqsa Mosque will witness a central incursion by settlers today, Sunday, and tomorrow, Monday, to celebrate the so-called Jewish Purim Mishmar holiday.
Police forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque last night and forced the worshipers to evacuate it after the Tarawih prayer, forcibly preventing them from performing Iʻtikāf (religious retreat), in order to allow the settlers to perform their rituals on Sunday.
