Dozens of Jewish settlers accompanied by Israeli police forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday morning according to a statement by Firas al-Dibis a Palestinian official with Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf.
233 settlers broke into the complex in three groups via the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh Gate and performed Talmudic rituals in the Mosque’s courtyard.
Israeli police forces intensified their presence since the early morning hours throughout the holy site to provide protection for the settlers al-Dibis added.
The Palestinian official said more settler incursions are expected into the holy site during the eight-day Jewish Hanukkah holiday which began on Wednesday and runs till Dec. 20.
More than 24000 settlers broke into the site since the beginning of the year.
