Jerusalem: An Israeli Knesset member forced his way into the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, a few days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to Israeli media.

According to Anadolu Agency, Amit Halevi, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party, performed Talmudic prayers at the flashpoint site, as reported by Channel 7. In a video recorded from inside the Al-Aqsa compound, Halevi stated that "Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque) should not be changed during the month of Ramadan."

The right-wing lawmaker expressed his intention to demand that Netanyahu and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir maintain settler incursions during the afternoon hours in Ramadan. Since January, Israeli police, following Ben-Gvir's orders, have been providing protection to illegal settlers storming the Al-Aqsa compound, as reported by Haaretz newspaper.

Haaretz further stated that police previously intervened forcefully in such activities but currently allow changes to the status quo, aligning with directives from the police commissioner and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir. Activities such as loud prayer, singing accompanied by full prostration, and dancing have been permitted at the compound, with recent additions of Torah lessons as part of violations of the status quo.

The status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque refers to the situation before Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967, where the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, managed the mosque's affairs. In 2003, Israeli authorities altered this status by allowing illegal settlers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque without the Islamic Waqf's approval, which continues to demand an end to these incursions.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. 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.