During January 2022, 3078 Israeli settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- 3078 extremist Israeli settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied City of Jerusalem during the month of January 2022, according to a Palestinian network hub for Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Qastal documented that 3078 Israeli settlers, including Jewish students, employees at the occupation authorities, and what the occupation police called as their “guests”, broke into the holy site during the month of January.

The settlers were breaking into the holy site daily and in two sessions, the morning and afternoon, except on Thursday and Saturday.

They were entering the mosque through the Al-Mughrabi Gate, provoking Palestinian worshipers by performing Talmudic prayers and making Talmudic explanations before leaving it through the Al-Silsila Gate.

During January, the network documented that the Israeli occupation authorities issued five banning orders against Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for a period of between five days and a month.

Al-Qastal also pointed out to the Israeli occupation forces’ harassing, arresting, attacking and beating of Palestinians in the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa mosque during the last week of January for enjoying the snowfall by playing in the snow and for raising the flag of Palestine, as the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem woke up las week to a blanket of white after a rare storm saw around 20 centimeters of snow settle on the city overnight, delighting adults and children alike.

It was reported that over 54 Palestinians were arrested in two days during the storm by the Israeli forces in the occupied city of Jerusalem for the above-mentioned reason.

Israeli occupation authorities have allowed settler incursions to the mosque since 2003, under the forces’ protection.

Since the start of 2021, 34,562 settlers broke into the holy site, setting a new record, as in 2020, 19,000 settlers broke into the mosque and 29,700 settlers in 2019, according to Al-Qastal, a Palestinian network hub for Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem.

There have been repeated objections and warnings by the Palestinian religious authorities as the settlers’ incursions provoke Palestinian worshippers of the mosque.

Israeli forces always facilitate and protect the settlers while preventing Palestinian worshipers from entering it, assaulting and detaining them.

The Al-Aqsa mosque is one of the holiest sites in Islam.

Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.

The complex also includes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most sacred Christian sites in the world.