Over 3587 Israeli settlers broke into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque in February, says watchdog

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Over 3587 extremist Israeli settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem in February, according to a Palestinian network hub for Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem.

Al-Qastal documented that more than 3587 Israeli settlers, including Jewish students and employees at the occupation authorities, broke into the holy site during February.

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

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

Al-Qastal also pointed out the Israeli occupation forces’ harassing, arresting, attacking, and beating of Palestinians in the courtyards of Al-Aqsa and its vicinity.

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.

In 2022, over 56670 Israeli settlers broke into the mosque.

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