Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on 5th day of Sukkot holiday

JERUSALEM (AA) - Dozens of Israeli settlers on Wednesday forced their way into the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem to mark the fifth day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, according to the Islamic Waqf Department.

Since Sunday, thousands of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex upon calls by Jewish extremist groups.

Sukkot is a weeklong holiday, which started on Sept. 29 and will continue until Oct. 6, ending a season of Jewish holidays that started by observing the Rosh Hashanah (New Year) on Sept. 15.

Israeli settlers stormed the complex in groups through the Al-Mughrabi Gate in the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque and attempted to perform "Talmudic rituals," according to an official with the Islamic Waqf Department.

Police have imposed age restrictions and prevented young Palestinians from entering the mosque during periods of incursions, witnesses told Anadolu.

Israeli police began allowing the settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in 2003, despite repeated condemnations from Palestinians.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara