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3 Aug, 2017

Hundreds of Jewish extremists break into Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Jerusalem, 1 August 2017, (WAFA) – More than 800 Israeli settlers Tuesday forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, only a few days after the mosque was reopened to Muslim worshipers following a two-week closure by Israeli authorities.

WAFA correspondent said about 870 settlers under heavy police protection entered the holy site in groups through the Moroccan Gate. The settlers toured the Islamic holy site and performed religious prayer.

The entry of settlers provoked a clash with one of the Palestinian worshippers at the compound, before Israeli police arrested three of them.

Earlier last night, extremist Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinians in the Old City neighborhood of Jerusalem, which is close to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Extreme settler organizations, namely the Temple organization Monday called settlers to join a mass march around the old city of Jerusalem to commemorate what they believe is the anniversary of the destruction of the temples.

Tuesday’s events come only a week after Israel went back on its decision to install metal detectors and/or surveillance cameras at the entrances leading to the compound, after thousands of Palestinians, most of whom come from East Jerusalem and Palestinian towns in Israel, gathered outside Bab al-Asbat Gate for two weeks in protest of the Israeli measures.