Dozens of Israeli settlers on Tuesday stormed al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police.
Jerusalem’s Islamic Awqaf Department said in a statement that the Israeli police allowed about 420 settlers to roam al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards and perform Talmudic rituals to celebrate Sukkot holiday.
The statement added that members of Students for the Temple Mount movement took part in the break-in and sang Israel’s national anthem during the tour.
Israeli police arrested the two Awqaf employees Anas al-Dabbagh and Ali Bkeirat and the Palestinian worshiper Mohammed al-Hamouri inside the Mosque.
Further a third Awqaf employee was handed an order to appear before the Israeli police on Wednesday for interrogation at al-Qashla detention center west of Jerusalem.
More settlers are expected to break into al-Aqsa Mosque during a second round of incursions later in the day.
Israeli police have recently tightened its restrictions on al-Aqsa guards and Palestinian citizens who frequently visit the Mosque. So far dozens of Palestinians have been summoned for interrogation and handed orders banning them from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for one-two weeks.
