More than 400 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in succession since this morning, Thursday, including ministers from the far-right government and members of the Israeli Knesset. Former Knesset member, extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick, led one of the encroaching groups, accompanied by Minister of Negev and Galilee, Itzhak Wasserlauf from the "Otzma Yehudit" party, and the wife of the extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, "Ayala."
The Waqf Department reported that "hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa, conducting provocative tours in its plazas, receiving explanations about the alleged Temple, and performing Talmudic rituals in the Bab al-Rahma area and in front of the Dome of the Rock before leaving the plazas through the Chain Gate."
Israeli forces closed the Qibli Mosque at Al-Aqsa in the morning after evacuating it of worshipers and stationed their forces in the plazas to secure the settlers' incursions ahead of the "Flag March." The Israeli police opened the Mughrabi Gate at 7 AM for hundreds of settlers to enter the mosque.
They intensified their military measures in Jerusalem, preventing young people from entering Al-Aqsa for Fajr prayer. Israeli forces forcibly removed dozens of Jerusalemites and journalists from the vicinity of the Chain Gate and assaulted some young men around Al-Aqsa and the worshipers present near the Chain Gate. Settlers continued their provocative incursions in large numbers, some dressed in priestly garments and barefoot, to perform Talmudic rituals.
