Hundreds of settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli police protection

Hundreds of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem on Tuesday morning under the protection of the Israeli police.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, which is responsible for managing Al-Aqsa, said, "Settlers are storming the mosque in large groups under police guard."

She added in a brief statement, a copy of which was received by Anadolu Agency, that "about 1,200 settlers stormed the mosque within two hours."

Hundreds more settlers are expected to storm the mosque in the coming hours.

Israeli right-wing groups called for widespread incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the anniversary of the so-called "destruction of the temple."

The number of intruders increases significantly during Jewish religious holidays.

Yesterday, Monday, dozens of settlers organized an Israeli flag march around the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem for this occasion.

Since 2003, the Israeli police have unilaterally allowed settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque despite repeated protests from the Islamic Waqf Department.

The Islamic Endowments Department demands an end to the raids.

In conjunction with its devastating war on Gaza, the Israeli army expanded its operations, especially in the northern West Bank, and settlers expanded their attacks on Palestinians and their property.

With American support, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, leaving more than 132,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and deadly famine.

Anatolia