JERUSALEM, Sunday, July 17, 2022 (WAFA) – Scores of Israeli settlers escorted by police broke today into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem and performed rituals in some of its courtyards, according to witnesses.

WAFA correspondent said scores of Israeli settlers entered the holy site in groups and performed rituals and Talmudic prayers there under the protection of Israeli police officers.

Earlier this morning, Israeli police stationed at the gates leading to the holy site retained the identity cards of many Palestinian Muslim worshipers as the latter were entering the holy site for prayers.

The Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian authority in charge of the holy sites in Jerusalem, has repeatedly described the settlers' presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque as "provocative", saying that Palestinian worshippers and guards at Al-Aqsa feel uncomfortable with the presence of Israeli police and settlers touring the Islamic holy site.

Israel captured East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the Six-Day War in 1967 in a move never recognized by the international community.

M.N