A group of extremist Israeli settlers headed by Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel broke into the sanctuary yards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday morning.
Witnesses said that about 40 settlers accompanied the minister when he broke into the yards of the Mosque under heavy military protection from the Israeli police.
In a statement, Wadi Al-Hilwa Information Centre said that they got into the Mosque through Al-Magharbeh Gate and left through Al-Silsileh Gate. They wandered through the Yards and some of them performed Talmudic rituals.
Placed under heavy security measures, the statement said, Palestinian worshipers could do nothing except chant Allahu Akbar (God is Great).
Jewish organisations gathering under the name of “The Coalition for the Temple” have also distributed ads calling for settlers to storm the Mosque next Saturday. They called upon the police to allow them entry to the Mosque to celebrate the Yom Kippur holiday.
Israeli police spokesman Yohanna Danino has announced that Israeli police have agreed to give permission for Jews to enter into the Mosque on Saturday, considering it a part of the so-called “Jewish Temple”. He said, “That is an undisputed right for Jews.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Awqaf in Gaza Ismail Redwan condemned the Israeli “desecration” of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. “This proves that the Israelis are not serious in peace talks with the Palestinians,” he declared.
He also called for the Arab, Islamic and international official bodies to take action to protect the third holiest place for the world’s two billion Muslims.