Israel agricultural minister storms Al-Aqsa

Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem this morning.

Head of the public relations office at the Islamic Endowment Department, Firas Al-Dibs, said Ariel headed a group of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa compound via the Mughrabi Gate, which has been under Israeli control since the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967.

Al-Dibs pointed out that Ariel took footage of the Al-Rahma Gate (Gate of Mercy) prayer area that was opened recently after Palestinians removed Israeli locks on it and entered the area.

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The prayer area at the Al-Rahma Gate was closed yesterday evening following an order by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and reopened on this morning.

Israeli police forces were deployed around Al-Rahma prayer area since early morning and took footage of Palestinian guards who opened the area.

The number of Israeli MK’s who storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has increased in recent months after Netanyahu lifted a ban on Knesset members visiting the Muslim holy site.