The Center of Mosques Studies - Groups of Israeli settlers stormed Wendesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque via the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh gate under heavy police protection.
The settlers tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the holy shrine in clear provocation to the Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ provocative presence in the Islamic holy site.
Women who were denied entry to the compound continued to protest outside al-Silsila Gate raising posters and chanting slogans expressing their right to pray in the compound.
Tensions have been running high in occupied Jerusalem since October 2015 after Israel imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into al-Aqsa Mosque while allowing the settlers’ free access to the compound.
The Mosque is Islam’s third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.