Ankara: Over 3,200 Israeli occupiers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, escalating tensions in the region. Among those who stormed the site were Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Likud party lawmaker Amit Halevi. The incursion coincided with the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av, a day commemorating the 'destruction of the Temple,' according to the Jerusalem Governorate.
According to Anadolu Agency, around 1,300 individuals entered the compound on Thursday morning, with Israeli police allowing groups of approximately 150 to enter at once. The police imposed stringent restrictions around the mosque's gates and Jerusalem's Old City, heavily deploying forces across the courtyards and restricting Palestinian worshippers from accessing the site.
The governorate reported that only a limited number of Palestinians managed to attend dawn prayers before Israeli forces allegedly assaulted several worshippers and other residents. During the incursions, occupiers reportedly performed Talmudic rituals, including wearing tefillin, full prostrations, and chanting loudly within the eastern section of the compound.
The governorate condemned the actions of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, labeling the storming as a 'dangerous escalation' and a 'flagrant violation' of the compound's historical and legal status quo. It highlighted concerns over 'systematic targeting of Islamic holy sites' and attempts to impose new realities at the mosque.
The governorate emphasized that Ben-Gvir's participation, along with the incursions by occupiers and groups advocating for the construction of a 'Jewish temple' at the site, signified a 'dangerous shift' from extremist group activities to official government actions. It warned of potential repercussions for regional security and stability, urging the international community to intervene.
The entire 144-dunam (35.6-acre) Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is considered 'an exclusively Islamic place of worship' by the governorate, which declared any measures to alter its identity or status as 'invalid and illegitimate.' The mosque is recognized as the third-holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, claiming historical ties to two ancient Jewish temples.
Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is situated, dates back to the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, with the annexation of the entire city in 1980 remaining unrecognized by the international community.