Jerusalem: Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, marking the fourth day of the Jewish holiday of Passover, a Palestinian official said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the official with the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that at least 683 illegal settlers entered the flashpoint site under the protection of Israeli police since morning. Witnesses stated that the settlers accessed the area through the Al-Mugharbah Gate, located west of the holy mosque.

On Tuesday, the complex saw over 1,700 illegal settlers, followed by 1,149 on Monday, and 494 others on Sunday as part of the week-long Passover holiday celebrations, which last until April 20. Passover is a significant Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites' exodus from Egypt during the time of Prophet Moses.

The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs noted that illegal settlers raided the mosque 21 times last month, coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Data from the Jerusalem governor's office revealed that 13,064 illegal settlers have stormed the mosque in the first quarter of 2025.

Since 2003, Israel has permitted illegal settlers to enter the flashpoint compound almost daily, except on Fridays and Saturdays. Al-Aqsa Mosque holds great significance as the world's third-holiest site for Muslims, while Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," asserting it was the location of two ancient Jewish temples.

East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is situated, was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed in 1980, a move not recognized by the international community.