Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection

LONDON: Dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by police, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday.

The site was reopened to Muslim worshippers last week after being closed for 40 days due to the Iran war. Palestinians have resumed their prayers at the compound, while Israeli authorities have also allowed settlers to enter the site, an action long condemned by Palestinians, as well as by Muslim and Arab countries.

Dozens of settlers approached the Dome of the Rock and performed provocative Talmudic rituals, the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, cited the Jerusalem Governorate as saying.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site, has been the site of frequent conflicts, including raids by Israeli settlers and restrictions on Muslim worshippers since East Jerusalem was occupied in June 1967.

The mosque is administered by Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf, which holds the legal authority to manage the compound and control access.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, visited the site on Sunday and called for greater access to it for Jewish worshippers. Since taking office in 2023, he has stormed the site at least 15 times, sparking anger and condemnation.