Jerusalem: Thirteen Israeli officials, including three ministers, have called on occupiers to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque in droves on Friday, May 15, to mark the anniversary of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem.

According to Anadolu Agency, Israel commemorates 'Jerusalem Day' on the Hebrew calendar, celebrating what it terms the 'reunification' of the city. This year, the date coincides with May 15, which also marks the anniversary of the 'Nakba,' a term used by Palestinians to describe Israel's foundation on the ruins of Palestinian villages in 1948.

Army Radio reports that 13 members of the Knesset, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Sports Minister Miki Zohar, and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, have requested that Al-Aqsa Mosque be opened to Jewish visitors next week. Despite previous allowances for large-scale incursions, Israeli police are likely to reject the request.

The decision regarding the request reportedly rests with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as indicated by associates of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Al-Aqsa Mosque, regarded as the third-holiest site by Muslims, is known to Jews as Temple Mount, believed to be the site of two ancient Jewish temples.

Since 2003, Israeli police have permitted daily entries into the Al-Aqsa compound, excluding Fridays and Saturdays. Palestinians view these incursions as provocations, arguing they disrupt the sanctity of the holy site and aim to change its religious status quo. They assert that Israel has been working to Judaize East Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa, and erase its Arab and Islamic heritage for decades.

Palestinians consider occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of their anticipated future state, referencing international resolutions that do not acknowledge Israel's 1967 occupation or its 1980 annexation of the city.