8500 Settlers Stormed Al-Aqsa During the Days of 'Sukkot'

Jerusalem - Afaq News - About 1195 settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday, during the sixth day of the so-called "Feast of Tabernacles" (Sukkot), under heavy protection from the occupation police and its special forces, while some of them raised the occupation flag in front of the Dome of the Rock during the morning incursions.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem stated that the incursions took place in successive groups through the Mughrabi Gate, which has been controlled by Israel since 1967, while the Jerusalem Governorate reported that one of the settlers raised the occupation flag in front of the Dome of the Rock.

Thus, the number of settlers who stormed Al-Aqsa during the "Feast of Tabernacles" has risen to about 8500 settlers, amid a noticeable increase in the number of intruders compared to last year, and a rise in calls launched by the so-called "Temple" groups to intensify incursions and perform religious rituals inside the mosque courtyards.

On Wednesday, 2468 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa on the fifth day of the holiday, while previous days witnessed incursions of 1500 settlers on the second day, 1731 on the third day, and 1462 on the fourth day, during which Talmudic rituals and prayers were performed, including collective prostration and the introduction of what is called "plant offerings", in addition to dancing, singing, and clapping in the mosque courtyards.

These incursions come amid the tightening of occupation forces' measures around Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, imposing restrictions on the entry of worshippers and detaining their identities at the gates, coinciding with securing the incursions of settlers and their rituals.

The Jerusalem Governorate indicated that the number of settlers who stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of this year has reached 52,277 settlers, warning of the continuation of daily incursions and the escalation of public religious rituals and violations inside the mosque.

During the Jewish holiday period, there are ongoing calls from Jerusalemite activists for families in Jerusalem and inside Israel to head to Al-Aqsa Mosque and to stay in its courtyards and prayer areas, amid the continued incursions by settlers under the protection of the occupation forces.