Dozens of Israeli settlers on Monday morning broke into al-Aqsa Mosque amid heavy police presence.
An official at Jerusalem’s Islamic Awqaf Department told Quds Press that several groups of Israeli settlers entered the Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate roamed its courtyards performed Talmudic rituals and received presentations on the alleged “Temple Mount”.
The Islamic Awqaf official added that tension flared up between al-Aqsa guards and Israeli Intelligence officers who entered the Mosque during the morning break-in.
Israeli policemen escorted the settlers and the intelligence officers until they left the site through al-Silsila Gate.
In another context the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday condemned calls by the Israeli extremist group Woman in Green for a night march in the Old City of Jerusalem to mark the anniversary of Tisha B’Av (Destruction of Jerusalem’s Temple).
The Ministry said in a statement that the march falls in line with Israel’s regular attempts to Judaize the holy city which have been stepped up recently following US president Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The night march is set to be held on 21st July in the presence of senior Israeli officials like Ze’ev Elkin Minister of Jerusalem Affairs.
