Ben-Gvir Storms Masjid Al-Aqsa, Waves Israeli Flag in New Provocation
More than 1,400 settlers invade the holy compound as occupation forces bar most Palestinian worshippers and clear the site for extremist rituals.
Al-Quds, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Itamar Ben-Gvir, the extremist Israeli minister of national security, stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Thursday while waving the Israeli flag, as the occupation regime escalated its annual provocations marking the so-called “Jerusalem Day.”
The incursion took place ahead of the “Flag March,” a yearly demonstration celebrating Israel’s occupation of East Al-Quds in the 1967 war according to the Hebrew calendar.
According to the Jerusalem Governorate, 1,412 Israeli settlers forced their way into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the morning and afternoon incursions under heavy occupation protection.
Ben-Gvir Raises Israeli Flag Inside Al-Aqsa
Video footage showed Ben-Gvir waving the Israeli flag and dancing with groups of far-right Israelis with the Dome of the Rock visible in the background.
He and the settlers chanted “The People of Israel Live” as participants applauded.
“Today, more than ever, Al-Aqsa Mosque is in our hands,” Ben-Gvir declared.
The provocative visit came only days after Ben-Gvir entered the compound with settlers and performed Talmudic rituals inside the sacred site.
Occupation Forces Restrict Palestinian Worshippers
Since early Thursday, large numbers of settlers, accompanied by an Israeli Knesset member and prominent rabbis, carried out Talmudic rituals inside the compound.
At the same time, occupation authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on Palestinian worshippers.
Men under the age of 60 and women under 50 were barred from entering Al-Aqsa from dawn, while occupation police assaulted several Palestinians at the mosque gates.
The Jerusalem Governorate said worshippers, employees of the Islamic Waqf, and students of the Sharia school were forced to remain inside roofed prayer halls and prevented from moving freely throughout the compound.
Only around 150 Muslims, including Waqf staff and students sitting final examinations, were allowed to remain inside the mosque while settlers entered in large numbers.
Old City Shops Forced to Close
In the Old City of Al-Quds, occupation forces compelled Palestinian merchants to shut their businesses for the entire day to secure the settler incursions and the Flag March scheduled for the evening.
Israeli media reported that around 50,000 settlers were expected to participate in the march through Palestinian neighborhoods, where racist slogans such as “Death to Arabs” are traditionally chanted.
Escalating Settler Incursions
The Jerusalem Governorate said the latest incursions followed calls by extremist settler groups to intensify their raids in conjunction with the Hebrew anniversary of the occupation of East Al-Quds.
Among those leading the settlers were Knesset member Ariel Kallner and extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick, who reportedly held a study session in the eastern section of the mosque compound.
Under longstanding arrangements, the Islamic Waqf is responsible for administering Al-Aqsa Mosque. However, since 2003, Israeli police have unilaterally allowed settlers to storm the holy site despite repeated Palestinian demands to halt the incursions.
The latest provocation underscores the occupation regime’s continuing efforts to impose a new reality at Islam’s third holiest site while tightening restrictions on Palestinian worshippers and expanding settler control over occupied Al-Quds. (PW)