Thousands of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque During Jewish Holiday

Approximately 1,195 settlers entered the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday, the sixth day of the Jewish Sukkot holiday, under heavy protection from Israeli police and special forces. Some settlers raised Israeli flags near the Dome of the Rock. The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem stated that the incursions occurred in successive groups through the Mughrabi Gate, controlled by Israel since 1967.

This brings the total number of settlers who entered Al-Aqsa during Sukkot to around 8,500, a significant increase compared to the previous year. This surge follows intensified calls from groups promoting the "Temple Mount" to increase incursions and perform religious rituals within the mosque's compound. On Wednesday, 2,468 settlers entered, with previous days seeing 1,500, 1,731, and 1,462 settlers, respectively. These incursions were accompanied by Talmudic rituals, including group prostration, the introduction of "vegetable offerings," and singing and dancing in the courtyards.

The Israeli forces have heightened security measures around Al-Aqsa and the Old City, restricting access for Muslim worshippers and confiscating their IDs at the gates, while simultaneously facilitating settler incursions and rituals. The Jerusalem Governorate reported that 52,277 settlers have entered Al-Aqsa courtyards since the beginning of the year, warning of continued daily incursions and the escalation of public religious rituals and violations within the mosque.

Amidst the ongoing settler incursions protected by Israeli forces, calls are being made for Jerusalem residents and Israeli Arabs to go to Al-Aqsa to demonstrate their presence in its courtyards and prayer halls during the Jewish holidays.