Israeli security forces stand guard as a group of Jews enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. AFP
The Observatory stated that these practices come amid continuous incitement from extremist Zionists advocating for increased Israeli access, prayer rights, and the eventual construction of a "Third Jewish Temple" on the so-called "Temple Mount," calling for storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, with security protection provided by Israeli occupation forces.
It also pointed to political and symbolic support for these actions, including the repeated storming by officials in the Israeli government, most notably extremist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to the mosque’s courtyards and the raising of the Israeli flag inside its premises, a dangerous escalation and a violation of the sanctity of the holy site.
The occupation forces have more or less closed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, to Palestinian worshippers for months now.
Friday, 15 May, marked the 78th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the humanitarian catastrophe orchestrated and carried out by armed Zionists, who massacred thousands of Palestinians, destroyed or occupied their homes and villages, and forcibly displaced 750,000 Palestinians within and outside of Palestine.
On Thursday, over 1,200 Israeli settlers stormed the mosque’s courtyards under heavy protection from the Israeli occupation forces, with the participation of political figures and amid tightened security measures in the surrounding area.
The Observatory added that these developments coincide with growing calls to open Al-Aqsa Mosque to settlers on Friday, despite the usual Israeli restriction on their entry on the Weekly holy day for Muslims.
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