Hundreds of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque During Jewish Holidays
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, on the third day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, groups of Israeli settlers launched incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound from the early morning hours. These incursions were reported by Palestine Al-Youm, citing data published by the Mehr News Agency.
During these raids, the settlers engaged in dancing and conducted prayers and Talmudic rituals within the mosque’s precincts. This follows a similar incident yesterday where around 1,500 Israeli settlers, under the heavy protection of occupation forces and amid intensified restrictions on Palestinians in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. This occurred on the second day of what is referred to as the Jewish ‘Sukkot’ holiday.
The Governorate of Jerusalem announced that settlers entered Al-Aqsa Mosque in successive groups through the Moroccan Gate, supported by the occupation police. The occupation forces closed this gate after the conclusion of the raids. Settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the mosque’s courtyards, particularly around the Al-Qattanin Gate. Additionally, a group of settlers gathered outside the Bab al-Hutta gate, one of Al-Aqsa’s entrances, to conduct prayers and Talmudic ceremonies, all while stringent restrictions imposed by occupation forces persisted around the mosque and the Old City.
In the Al-Qattanin market, which leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque, occupation authorities compelled a number of shopkeepers to close their businesses. This action coincided with the settlers’ performance of Talmudic rituals in the market and restrictions on the movement of citizens in the Old City.
These incursions are taking place while the occupation escalates its military measures in Jerusalem and imposes movement restrictions on worshippers and their transit during Jewish holidays. Typically, settler incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque increase during these occasions. Earlier on the same day, the Governorate of Jerusalem reported that 1,143 settlers had stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the morning hours; however, subsequent information indicated their numbers rose to approximately 1,500. According to the Governorate, these raids included the performance of Talmudic rituals, group dances, and the bringing of what are described as ‘plant sacrifices’ into the mosque courtyards.
Official statistics from the Governorate of Jerusalem reveal that from the beginning of the year until the end of August, approximately 40,661 settlers have raided Al-Aqsa Mosque. Furthermore, from the start of the year until early September, around 800 orders have been issued to ban Jerusalemite citizens from the mosque. Incursions tend to intensify during the season of Jewish holidays, which commenced with the Hebrew New Year on September 12th and 13th, followed by Yom Kippur on September 21st and 22nd. The Sukkot holiday is scheduled to continue from September 26th to October 2nd, after which Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah will be observed on October 3rd.
