Israeli settlers break into Al-Aqsa mosque, perform “silent prayers”

Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Dozens of extremist Israeli settlers broke into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem in the early morning hours of Thursday, performing “silent prayers.”
Under the occupation forces protection, over 60 Israeli settlers broke into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the morning break-in session and their incursions to the mosque continues till this moment.
The settlers entered through the Damascus Gate- which Palestinians call Bab al-Amoud Gate- and they are now provoking the Palestinian worshipers by performing “silent Talmudic prayers” in the courtyards of the mosque.
اقتحام المستوطنين للمسجد الأقصى متواصل بحماية مشددة من قوات الاحتلال pic.twitter.com/w5dVYP3VqH
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) October 7, 2021
استمرار اقتحام المستوطنين للمسجد الأقصى حتى اللحظة pic.twitter.com/Z7hUuLiiBY
— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) October 7, 2021
In an unprecedented decision, an Israeli occupation court said yesterday that the presence of Israeli settlers at the al-Aqsa mosque does not constitute a “criminal act” as long as their prayers remain “silent.”
The judge of the Jerusalem Magistrates Court, Bilha Yahalom, said that the silent prayer in the mosque cannot be considered a “criminal act,” Israeli Channel 7 reported.
This came in an appeal by Rabbi Aryeh Lippo against a police ban on his visits to a flashpoint site.
The judge also ordered the police to shorten the ban and allow the rabbi to return to his prayer there.
“His daily arrival at the Temple Mount indicates that this is a matter of principle and substance for him,” the judge said, using the Hebrew name of Al-Aqsa mosque.
Israeli occupation authorities allow settler incursions to the mosque since 2003 under the forces protection, despite repeated objections and warnings by the Palestinian religious authorities as the visits provoke worshippers of the mosque.
Israeli forces always facilitate and protect the settlers breaking into the holy site while preventing Palestinian worshipers from entering it, assaulting and detaining them.
The Al-Aqsa mosque is one of the holiest sites in Islam. It was also Islam’s first Qibla, the direction towards which Muslims must turn to pray, before it was changed to Mecca.
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.