Illegal Israeli settlers storm into Al-Aqsa Mosque complex to mark Jewish holiday

ANKARA (AA) – Hundreds of illegal Israeli settlers forced their way into the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem to mark a Jewish holiday.

The settlers performed Talmudic rituals at the complex to mark Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks.

Local sources estimated that hundreds of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex and the Al-Buraq Wall, which Jews call the Wailing Wall.

Al Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam, its first prayer direction and the site for Prophet Muhammad (Upon Him Be Peace);s Ascension to the heavens for the Night Journey (Israa wa Mairaj).

On the other hand, Jews call the area the Temple Mount, claiming that it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israeli forces also closed roads near the Damascus Gate area to secure the entry of the settlers into the complex.

In a statement, the Jordan-run Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem said 590 settlers stormed mosque this morning, following Islamophobic calls by extremist Zionist groups.

Israeli forces also restricted the entry of Palestinian worshippers into the mosque amid tightened restrictions.

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.