On Tisha B’Av; hundreds of ‘Israeli’ settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of ‘Israeli’ settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, marking the day of ‘Tisha B'Av’ with heavy security provided by ‘Israeli’ police.

“Tisha B’av” is an annual fast day in Judaism, on which several disasters in Jewish history occurred; the destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem – according to Jewish narratives.

Thousands of settlers gathered from dawn at the Western Wall Plaza, while hundreds congregated at the Moroccan Gate to facilitate their entry into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

This event was organized in response to calls from settler groups and "Temple Mount" organizations for mass incursions into the holy site.

The Islamic Waqf Department reported that the incursions occurred in groups, each consisting of approximately 40 settlers. These groups conducted tours of the compound and were given information about the alleged Temple. Some settlers performed Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock before leaving the site through the Gate of the Chain – according to the statement.

According to the Waqf Department, ‘Israeli’ police deployed special unit officers across the compound to guard the settlers and prevent Palestinians from entering or moving freely during the settlers' provocative tours.

The police also established checkpoints at the Old City gates and the mosque entrances, including the Chain Gate, the Gate of the Tribes, and the Gate of the Council (Inspector’s Gate).

They set up metal barriers, checked the IDs of visitors, and barred young Palestinians from entering the mosque’s grounds.