Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers, on Thursday, forced their way into the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Occupied East Jerusalem on the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, according to the Islamic Waqf Department, Anadolu Agency reports.
In a statement, the department said that at least 240 settlers entered the site under the protection of Israeli police.
Sukkot is a week long holiday, which started on 29 September and will continue until 6 October, ending a season of Jewish holidays that started by observing the Rosh Hashanah (New Year) on 15 September.
Settlers stormed the complex in groups through the Al-Mughrabi Gate in the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, witnesses told Anadolu.
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At least 4,551 settlers have stormed the complex since Sunday, according to data from the Islamic Waqf Department.
Israeli police began allowing the settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in 2003, despite repeated condemnations from Palestinians.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognised by the international community.
READ: PA calls for international intervention to stop settler attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque