68 Right-Wing Israelis Storm the Aqsa Mosque Plazas under a Military Protection

Dozens of settlers along with Israeli army officers on Monday morning stormed the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under the military protection of Israeli Special Forces.

A group of right-wing Israelis toured the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound , following an Israeli court decision to ban a Palestinian government official from the site for two months, amid an increase in Israeli “provocations” on the compound during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, According to Palestinian local agencies.

Witnesses and officials from the Islamic Endowment (Waqf) that control Al-Aqsa said that more than 60 Israelis toured the compounded escorted by six Israeli intelligence officers after entering the compound through the Moroccan gate.

Meanwhile, Muslim worshipers confronted the incursion by chanting “Allah the Greatest”. The Aqsa guards managed to prevent two settlers from performing Talmudic rituals at the Muslims’ holy site.

Meanwhile, Israeli police officers stationed outside of the compound and prevented the Sahour meals — meals taken before dawn by those observing Ramadan who fast during the day — from reaching Muslim worshippers who spend the night inside the compound.

Witnesses reported that a “heated argument” broke out between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police officers.

Separately, Israeli forces also stormed Shufat refugee camp near the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem before dawn Monday, at Sahour time.

Spokesperson for the Fatah movement in the camp Thaer al-Fasfous said that more than 300 Israeli soldiers deployed in the streets and alleys of Shufat ransacked several homes.

He added that Israeli soldiers assaulted locals and that young Palestinian man sustained bruises after he was attacked inside his home.

The Waqf condemned Israeli authorities last week for the latest “provocations and harassment” taking place on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound amid the holy month of Ramadan.

The Waqf slammed Israel for their policy that “seeks to deprive the Waqf of their natural and historic right to run Al-Aqsa Mosque, and deprive Muslim worshippers of their opportunity to pray in it.”

The statement criticized the fact that Palestinians are being banned from the holy site during Ramadan, “at a time when Muslims look forward to dedicating their time to fasting, worshipping, and other spiritual activities in the Al-Aqsa Mosque — one of the most sacred sites in Islam.”

Israeli police allowed settlers to storm the Aqsa Mosque during the days of the holy month of Ramadan in the morning time but stopped the evening “tours”. the number of settlers who have stormed the plazas of the Aqsa since the beginning of Ramadan exceeded 623 settlers and soldiers.