Extremist Jewish settler groups distributed a statement to Jewish worshipers coming to the Buraq Square, adjacent to the walls of Jerusalem surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, calling on them not to just pray in this courtyard, which is considered sacred to Jews as it is near the Western Wall, but to flock into the Jerusalem Mosque’s squares to perform their prayers.
An organization called the “Temple Groups”, called for a gathering on Saturday in Al-Aqsa courtyards, to raise their demand to equally allocate prayer times for Jews and Muslims under the slogan of “equality and non-discrimination against Jews.”
A wave of settlers stormed the yards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, under strict security measures by the Israeli occupation forces. The raid came in response to calls by Jewish organizations to intensify “visits” to the place in celebration of the Jewish Throne Day.
According to the Islamic Waqf, the total number of Jewish settlers who entered Al-Aqsa on Wednesday reached 906, including 295 in the morning and 611 in the afternoon. Israeli occupation authorities also arrested the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dr. Ismail Nawahda, and conducted a lengthy investigation with him, and then released him in the evening.
The number of settlers entering the mosque is expected to increase in the coming days. Israeli ministers and officials participated in some of these incursions, creating further tension with the Palestinians.
