Israeli settlers have once again intruded into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of al-Quds.
Palestine’s Wafa news agency reported that settlers made a provocative tour of the compound’s courtyard on Sunday under the protection of the regime forces.
Israeli police also imposed strict restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers.
Israeli settlers often enter the compound through the Moroccan Gate, also known as the Mughrabi Gate, to perform rituals at the holy site.
The trend of intrusions has generated daily confrontations in the recent past between Israelis and Palestinians at the compound. Many Palestinians have been injured, arrested or killed.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is located above the Western Wall plaza. It houses both the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Jewish visitors are allowed to enter the mosque, but according to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government in the wake of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the compound is prohibited.
Many of Israel’s Knesset (parliament) members are right-wing extremists who apparently support the demolition of the Islamic site to build a Jewish temple instead.
The Palestinian resistance groups have warned that Israel is playing with fire by such provocations.