Hundreds of Israeli settlers and extremists stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem this morning, Wednesday. According to an official in the Islamic Endowments in Jerusalem, more than 300 settlers and extremists breached the sacred site, while the Israeli occupation police prevented the mosque guards from intervening. This alarming trend marks a shift in the pattern of incursions, which are no longer confined to religious occasions.
Sheikh Akram Sabri, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, condemned these actions as blatant assaults and provocations against the feelings of Muslims worldwide. He refuted claims made by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, arguing that the raids are aimed at imposing control over Al-Aqsa Mosque, a site of profound significance to Muslims. Sabri highlighted that the extreme right-wing factions within the Israeli government are strategically timing these attacks to coincide with Jewish holidays, further intensifying the situation.
Ben Gvir has expressed intentions to build a synagogue on what he refers to as the Temple Mount, a term used by Jews to describe Al-Aqsa Mosque. He justified this controversial plan by asserting that the law grants equal rights for Muslims and Jews to pray at the mosque. The ongoing incursions by Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque have escalated under the protection of the Israeli military, especially since the onset of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7.
