Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

More than 40 extremist Israeli settlers, including senior Likud officials, invaded Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Maghrabi Gate on Tuesday morning. They said they were commemorating the ‘unification’ of Jerusalem.

June 5, 2013 will be the 46th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem. Israel has since been controlling the holy city, Judaising it and placing restrictions on Muslim and Christian citizens hindering their access to places of worship.

Witnesses said that the settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque and were escorted by Israeli police who evacuated the grounds and sent the students of the Sharia schools inside the mosque away.

The police arrested a Palestinian citizen who was inside the Mosque while the settlers were there.

Tens of Palestinian women, who attend the Sharia schools, gathered at the Gates of the Mosque and were pepper-sprayed by the police who also hit them with batons. Six of the women were reported to have been hurt; one of them was rushed to hospital for treatment of several wounds.