Jerusalem: Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers forced their way on Monday into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem to mark the second day of the Jewish Passover holiday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that 765 illegal settlers entered the flashpoint site in groups under the protection of Israeli police through the Al-Mugharbah Gate area, west of the holy mosque. The agency further noted that nearly 500 illegal settlers stormed the mosque on the first day of Passover on Sunday.

Passover, which commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt during the time of Prophet Moses, is considered one of the most important holidays on the Jewish religious calendar. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs highlighted that illegal settlers raided the mosque 21 times last month, coinciding with the Muslims' celebration of the holy month of Ramadan.

Figures released by the Jerusalem governor indicated that 13,064 illegal settlers stormed the mosque in the first quarter of 2025. Since 2003, Israel has permitted illegal settlers into the flashpoint compound almost on a daily basis, excluding Fridays and Saturdays.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims, while Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.