Occupied Jerusalem – 561 Israeli colonial settlers broke into the Al-Aqsa mosque, protected by well-armed forces, who attacked and arrested worshipers to make room for settler intrusion, earlier on Monday.
To mark the second day of the so-called Passover holiday, Al-Qastal documented 561 Israeli settlers broke into the Al-Aqsa mosque while being backed by well-armed forces who assaulted and blockaded Muslim worshipers inside prayer halls in order to empty the holy site of its worshipers to secure the entry of the settlers.
Earlier today, at around 7am, local sources said, the Israeli forces raided the holy site, attacked and chased the worshipers in the courtyards of the mosque, including women and children.
The forces also fired rubber-coated metal bullets and shattered the windows of the southernmost building inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque where dozens of worshipers were inside.
During the raid and in the aftermath of the atack, the settlers stormed the holy site and performed provocative Talmudic prayers. They entered the mosque through the Al-Mughrabi Gate which is under full-Israeli control.
This is the third raid and aggressive assault to be launched by the Israeli occupation forces in less than 72 hours and for the second day in a row.
Earlier on Friday, the forces broke into the holy site and brutally attacked the worshipers who gathered to perform the Al-Fajr prayer, injuring around 153 and arresting 400.
On Sunday morning, 545 Israeli colonial settlers also broke into the Al-Aqsa mosque, protected by well-armed forces who emptied the site after attacking and arresting worshipers, injuring at least 19 and arresting 9.
There had been calls by extremist Jewish groups to storm the compound this week in large numbers starting Sunday to mark the Passover and to perform a Passover sacrifice, in violation of the status quo agreements on religious practice at the site.
