UPDATE – Over 500 illegal Israeli settlers storm Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy police protection

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Awad Rjoob and Ikram Kouachi

RAMALLAH, Palestine/ANKARA (AA) – More than 500 illegal Israeli settlers forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday, Palestinian authorities said.

The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that the settlers entered the flashpoint site under heavy protection from Israeli forces.

Witnesses said that Israeli police personnel were seen stationed inside the compound during the settler intrusion.

Illegal Israeli settlers intensified their intrusions into the Al-Aqsa complex ahead of the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover, which starts on April 12.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, illegal settlers raided the mosque 21 times last month, when Muslims celebrated the holy month of Ramadan.

Figures released by the Jerusalem governor showed that 13,064 illegal settlers had stormed the mosque in the first quarter of 2025.

Since 2003, Israel has allowed illegal settlers into the flashpoint compound almost on a daily basis with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.

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 in a move never recognized by the international community.