Scores of Israeli settlers broke into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and carried out provocative tours

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS, March.20, (ST)-Scores of Israeli settlers guarded by Israeli occupation police broke into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday and carried out provocative tours across its courtyards, according to WAFA news agency.

 

The agency reported that  scores of Israeli settlers entered the holy site in groups and performed rituals and Talmudic prayers there under the protection of Israeli occupation police officers.

 

Israeli far-right activists have repeatedly pushed for an increased presence by Israeli settlers at Al-Aqsa, despite a joint guardianship agreement between Israel and Jordan that bans the entry of Jewish settlers to the holy site.

 

Jerusalem’s Islamic Waqf has repeatedly described the settlers’ tours as “provocative”, and said that Palestinian worshippers and guards at Al-Aqsa feel uncomfortable with the presence of Israeli police and settlers touring the Islamic holy site.

 

The Israel entity captured East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the Six-Day War in 1967 in a move never recognized by the international community.