JERUSALEM, February 14, 2016 (WAFA) – Five Israeli settlers Sunday entered Al-Aqsa Mosque compound escorted by Israeli police and guards in an attempt to perform prayers, an action that has sparked the latest spate of violence which began in October 2015.

Palestinian Muslim worshippers confronted the Israeli police and the settlers, forcing the police to retreat and accompany the settlers out of the compound.

WAFA correspondent said Israeli settlers affiliated with a religious group called “students for the temple” broke into the mosque compound to perform prayers in small groups and under intense Israeli police protection inflaming tension.

 Meanwhile, Israel imposed tight restrictions on Palestinian women and children’s entry into the compound on Friday and Saturday and prevented more than 60 women and student from entering the compound.

The women and student were listed five months ago on a list Israel refers to as the black list and banned them from entering the mosque compound. However, these women continue to protest in front of the gates.

In the last four months in 2015, the number of Israeli settlers who entered Al-Aqsa compound to perform prayers has multiplied. Under police protection, Israeli settlers were reported as entering the mosque and performing religious prayers in the direction of the mosque, which has enraged Muslim worshippers.

Palestinians fear that, similar to what happened in Hebron’s al-Ibrahimi Mosque; Israel will take over the mosque and divide it between Muslims and Jews or ban Muslims complete entry. Israeli religious qroups claim that Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on an ancient temple and that one day the temple will be built on top of the Muslim shrine.

M.H