Illegal Israeli Settlers Storm al-Aqsa Mosque in Provocative Move

According to SAEDNEWS, In a troubling act of provocation, hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque compound located in the occupied Old City of al-Quds on Sunday. This intrusion was carried out under the protection of Israeli forces, raising tensions among Palestinian worshipers.

According to the Jordan-run Islamic Waqf Department, which manages the affairs of al-Aqsa Mosque, about 1,390 settlers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate, also known as the Mughrabi Gate. The situation escalated when far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir participated in Talmudic rituals at the holy site, while witnesses reported that Israeli forces blocked Palestinian worshipers from entering the mosque.

The Islamic Endowments Department in al-Quds reported that more than 700 settlers breached the Muslim holy site. However, Ben-Gvir’s office clarified that the minister did not actually enter the site but welcomed settlers at the entrance of the complex.

This kind of aggressive action by hardline Israeli officials and settlers has become a regular occurrence at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a situation that deeply angers Palestinian residents. These mass settler break-ins are often organized by groups supported by Tel Aviv and carried out with the backing of Israeli police in the area.

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is significant as it houses both the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, sitting just above the Western Wall plaza. While Jewish visitation is allowed, it adheres to a long-standing agreement between Jordan—which serves as the custodian of Islamic and Christian sites in al-Quds—and Israel, which prohibits non-Muslim worship at the compound.

This latest intrusion by settlers is especially poignant given the ongoing violence in the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where recent conflicts have resulted in the deaths of at least 42,603 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, since October 7 of last year.