Right-wing Israeli Knesset member Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Thursday, forced his way into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem amid tight Israeli police protection, Anadolu News Agency reported.
Ben-Gvir stormed the site after Israeli police agreed, Wednesday evening, to allow him to tour the complex ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, due to start this week.
Jerusalem: the extremist zionist itamar ben gvir desecrated al-aqsa mosque this morning, under protection of the occupation.
this, while israel has been attempting to calm the situation in the holy city ahead of ramadan by establishing regional contacts. pic.twitter.com/AVpO1pjHVr
— SAQI (@SAQI8732T) March 31, 2022
In a statement, the Islamic Endowments Department said Ben-Gvir stormed the site through the complex’s Mughrabi Gate under the protection of Israeli police.
A Palestinian woman was detained by Israeli forces in the Bab Al-Asbat (Lion’s Gate) area, to the north of the Mosque, the statement said.
In 2003, the Israeli government unilaterally allowed settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, despite protests from the Islamic Endowments Department, which oversees holy sites in Jerusalem.
Itamar Ben- Gvir plans to break into Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in “ Occupied Jerusalem” this coming Thursday… pic.twitter.com/j5Et0Ei1NH
— Shenaz uppal (@Shenaz10) March 28, 2022
Since then, Israeli police allow Jewish settlers, except for Fridays and Saturdays, to storm the site in two shifts in the morning and after the noon prayer.
Concerns are running high that settler tours of the compound during the Jewish Passover holiday, which coincides with the third week of Ramadan, may cause confrontations between the Palestinians and Israeli police.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
