Jerusalem – A total of 243 Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday under heavy police protection, according to local sources. The incursions occurred in two separate periods, both in the morning and afternoon.
The Jerusalem Governorate stated that the settlers entered the holy site over the course of the day. Additionally, approximately 760 tourists reportedly entered the mosque through the tourism gate controlled by Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, a local rights organization, reported that Israeli authorities issued a six-month ban against recently released Palestinian prisoner, Alaa Najib, preventing him from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Najib was released from Israeli prisons this past Sunday after serving 26 months in detention.
The center highlighted a pattern of restrictions imposed on Palestinians accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, fueling tensions in the already volatile region.
Later on Wednesday evening, reports emerged that Israeli forces detained and searched several young men in the Musrara neighborhood of Jerusalem. The reasons for the detentions remain unclear.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The continued entry of settlers, often under police escort, is viewed by Palestinians as a provocation and a violation of the status quo. The increasing restrictions on Palestinian access to the holy site further exacerbate these tensions, raising concerns about the future of the fragile peace in the region.
DZWatch continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.
