Several Israeli Settlers, on Monday, stormed the vicinity of the Al-Aqsa mosque of the internationally-recognized occupied East Jerusalem. The group was lead by Israeli leader, Yehuda Glick, local sources said.
Palestinian sources including Muslim worshipers, present at the scene, told media outlets that Israeli soldiers ensured full protection for the invading settlers, to the extent that some of the soldiers attacked a number of Palestinian youths inside and forced them out of the sacred compound.
Palestinian Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs in Jerusalem, confirmed that the invading settlers, backed by soldiers, entered from the Moroccan gate.
Waqf officials noted that the extremist Rabbi and controversial member of Israeli parliament, Yehuda Glick, presented his own explanations with regards to the history of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, considered the third holiest shrine to Muslims around the world.
They further noted that at least 37 colonists were allowed to enter the Islamic shrine in a provocative way, with the full protection of Israeli soldiers.
The illegal Israeli settlers performed some prohibited rituals, in front of the Al-Aqsa’s Dome of the Rock, as well as the Rahma or Mercy gate, one of the entrances to the ancient shrine.
Palestinian religious officials have consistently complained about the highly-provocative colonialist visits to such a holy place, however Israeli authorities continue to allow and safeguard such visits.
In September of 2000, the late Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, backed by 3,000 Israeli troopers, made a contentious intrusion to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque. Palestinian worshipers rose up in protest, resulting in the second Palestinian Intifada or uprising, across the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
This second Palestinian Intifada or ‘Al-Aqsa Intifada’ is ongoing.
