Israeli rabbis call on Jews to storm Al-Aqsa

Dozens of prominent rabbis have called on Israeli settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa compound to reinforce Jewish ties to the area, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The statement, signed by 40 rabbis and instigated by far-right leader Rabbi Dov Lior and Chief Rabbinate Judge Rabbi Yisrael Rozen, insists that going to the site to advance Jewish prayers is important to facilitate the broader Zionist project for the region.

“It is a great merit to go up, and to be raised up, to the holy mountain in order to seek guidance for Zion and to strengthen our hold on this holy place,” wrote the rabbis yesterday.

The Joint Committee of the Temple Organisations have recorded that over 1,500 Jews have stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque since a deadly shootout two weeks ago, more than twice the number than in the same period previously.

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The statement comes as Palestinians face severe restrictions on their access to the Noble Sanctuary, resulting in widespread protests in Jerusalem, the occupied territories and around the world.

Despite the removal of new security measures by Israeli forces on Wednesday evening, occupying soldiers attacked Muslim worshipers gathering at the mosque again yesterday and closed the gates.

The Waqf authority has called for Palestinians to gather at Al-Aqsa for Friday prayers today to protest the ongoing Israeli aggression.