Scores of extremist Jewish settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wednesday morning under heavy police protection, while Muslim worshipers faced severe restrictions or outright denial of access.

According to the Islamic Awqaf Administration, dozens of heavily guarded settlers breached the Maghariba (Moroccan) Gate and paraded through the mosque’s courtyards. The intruders received lectures from ultra-Orthodox rabbis interpreting the area as the “Temple Mount,” before some performed Talmudic prayers and ritual dances on sacred Islamic ground.

“This is a blatant desecration of our holiest sanctuary,” said Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, director of the Awqaf Administration. “Under the watchful eye of Israeli police, settlers are turning our mosque into a stage for extremist rituals.”

Simultaneously, Israeli occupation forces tightened control over the mosque’s entrances, imposing new ID checks and age-based bans aimed at Muslim visitors. Reports indicate that hundreds of prayer-goers were prevented from entering, with some turned away at the Lions’ Gate and Bab al-Silsila.

“My elderly father was stopped at the gate and denied entry,” recounted local worshiper Fatima Hassan. “Meanwhile, settlers roam freely inside—this is impossible under any law of justice.”

This incident follows a recent uptick in settler provocations and police restrictions around Al-Aqsa, which is administered by the Jordanian–Palestinian Islamic Waqf but policed by Israel. Palestinian leaders warn that continued violations risk igniting broader unrest across the occupied territories.

Under international law, an occupying power must ensure the protection of religious sites and civilians. Amnesty International and other rights groups have condemned Israel’s failure to prevent settler violence and its punitive measures against Muslim worshipers.

“The double standard is clear: one community’s extremists enjoy impunity, while another’s faithful are criminalized,” said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO Executive Committee.

Despite these provocations, Palestinian worshipers have vowed to uphold their right of access. Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa will serve as a critical test of Israel’s intentions, as mosques across Jerusalem and the West Bank prepare for solidarity marches defending the sanctuary.

“Al-Aqsa is the heart of our faith and our identity,” Sheikh al-Kiswani reminded congregants. “We will not yield to attempts to Judaize our holy place.”

As tensions in Jerusalem mount, the international community faces renewed pressure to enforce respect for religious freedom and to hold Israel accountable for its responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention. (ILKHA)