Quds - Saba:
Dozens of Zionist settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Thursday, under the protection of the Zionist enemy police, coinciding with the so-called Jewish "Purim" holiday.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups, conducted provocative tours of its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of the occupation forces.
The biblical "Purim" holiday begins today, Thursday, and continues until Sunday, March 16. For its part, the Waqf Department stated that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police.
They conducted provocative tours of its courtyards, received explanations about the alleged "Temple," and performed religious rituals in front of the Dome of the Rock before withdrawing from the courtyards through the Chain Gate.
The so-called "Temple" organizations and settler groups exploit Jewish holidays to intensify their incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and perform Talmudic rituals, in flagrant and repeated violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In conjunction with the settler incursions, Israeli forces are imposing strict measures on the entry of worshipers to Al-Aqsa Mosque and intensifying their military measures at its gates.
They are also continuing their policy of excluding worshipers, both male and female, and prominent figures from Jerusalem and the 1948 territories from Al-Aqsa Mosque, with the aim of emptying it.
Settler incursions into Al-Aqsa have not ceased since the beginning of Ramadan, with Israeli police setting the hours for these incursions between 7 and 11 a.m.
The invading settlers are keen to perform the ritual of prostration (the epic prostration) at Al-Aqsa on a daily basis. They also continue to perform Talmudic rituals and public group prayers in the courtyards of the sanctuary and at the gates of Al-Aqsa.
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