Jewish settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform Talmudic rituals

Dozens of Jewish settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday morning and performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. The settlers were protected by a heavy police presence. All of Israel’s settlers and the settlements in which they live are illegal under international law.

Entering Al-Aqsa in groups from the Mughrabi Gate, the settlers conducted provocative tours of the mosque compound and performed Talmudic rituals.

In a serious violation, a settler placed Tefillin prayer boxes on his head and prayed inside Al-Aqsa Mosque itself under the guard of occupation forces. Rabbi Yisrael Shalit also led public prayers and calls following the storming of the mosque.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces tightened their military presence around the Old City of Jerusalem and at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, obstructing the entry of Palestinians.

Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed settlers’ breaches of its courtyards with dancing, singing and parties during the recent Jewish Hanukkah holiday, especially in the eastern area near the Bab Al-Rahmah prayer area.

These incursions come after incitement calls from “Temple Mount” groups to organise widespread incursions under the pretext of the Hanukkah holiday, which began on 26 December and lasted for a week, during which large-scale incursions and Talmudic rituals were organised.

On the first day of Hanukkah last Thursday, the settlers’ storming of Al-Aqsa’s courtyards was led by Israel’s far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir.

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