Over 2,500 Israeli Residents Trespass Al‑Aqsa Mosque Complex, Palestinian Worshippers Blocked From Performing Prayers

ISTANBUL: More than 2,500 Israeli residents stormed the Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem yesterday morning, during the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av commemorating what they claim as the ‘destruction of the Temple’, Anadolu Agency reported.

An official from the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, who declined to be named, told Anadolu that the incursion was ‘continuous and in very large numbers’.

He added that it was accompanied by ‘widespread violations’, including the performance of Talmudic rituals in groups and loud prayers.

Videos shared by Israeli right‑wing activists showed Israeli residents conducting group religious rituals facing the Dome of the Rock.

Another recording showed an Israeli flag being waved inside the compound as participants sang the Israeli national anthem in front of the Zionist regime’s police, as reported by BERNAMA‑ANADOLU.

Earlier, the Jerusalem Governor’s Office, in a Facebook post, informed that the Israeli police had allowed the number of Israeli residents entering the compound to be increased to about 150 per group.

According to the statement, the Israeli military also imposed severe restrictions at the mosque entrances and around the Old City of Jerusalem, deployed large numbers of forces in the courtyard areas, and prevented Palestinian worshippers from entering the compound.

It said only a small number of Palestinians managed to enter the mosque to perform dawn prayers before Israeli troops attacked several worshippers and other residents.

According to the Governor’s Office, the Israeli residents ‘performed Talmudic rituals during the incursion, including wearing tefillin, performing full prostrations in the eastern part of the compound, and chanting loudly’.

It added that ‘extremist groups supporting the construction of a Jewish temple on the site are mobilising supporters in an effort to bring 5,000 Israeli residents into the compound’ through the incursion yesterday.

The Jerusalem Governor’s Office condemned the action of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir in storming the compound as a ‘dangerous escalation’ and a ‘blatant violation’ of the historical and legal status quo.

According to the office, the action is part of a ‘systematic effort targeting Islamic holy sites’ and an attempt to impose a new reality at the mosque.

The Governor’s Office stressed that Ben‑Gvir’s participation together with the incursion by Israeli residents and groups supporting the construction of a ‘Jewish temple’ at the site marked a ‘dangerous shift’ from attacks by extremist groups to official acceptance of such actions by the Israeli government.

The Governor’s Office warned that these violations could have repercussions on regional security and stability, and urged the international community and international institutions to act to stop them.

It affirmed that the entire Al‑Aqsa Mosque compound, covering 144 dunams (14.4 hectares), is an ‘exclusive place of worship for Muslims’, while stressing that any measures aimed at altering its identity or historical and legal status are ‘invalid and have no legitimacy’.

Al‑Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam.

Meanwhile, BERNAMA‑SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI reported that the foreign ministers of eight countries condemned the Israeli actions, citing a joint statement.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Ben‑Gvir’s entry into the Al‑Aqsa compound.

“The foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemn Israel’s provocative actions at Al‑Aqsa Mosque or Al‑Haram Al‑Sharif.

“These include the continuous mass incursions by illegal residents led by Israel’s extremist minister into Al‑Aqsa Mosque or Al‑Haram Al‑Sharif under military protection, the raising of Israeli flags in its courtyards, the erection of two tents by Israeli police, and all other tension‑provoking actions,” the statement said yesterday.

It added that the actions constitute a serious violation of international law, relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, and the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

“Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city,” the statement said.

The foreign ministers also urged Israel to immediately lift access restrictions to the Old City of Jerusalem and not to prevent Muslims from entering the mosque to perform their worship.

AGENSI