Groups of Jewish settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Tuesday, under the protection of Israeli occupation soldiers, in response to the calls of extremist Temple groups.

The extremist former member of Knesset, Yehuda Glick, led the group of settlers during their storming of Al-Aqsa courtyards, while the occupation forces strengthened their military deployment in the vicinity of the mosque and the alleys of the Old City.

Eyewitnesses said that the settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the eastern region of Al-Aqsa, and received explanations about the alleged "temple", under heavy protection from the occupation police.

The occupation authorities imposed a closure on the West Bank and Gaza on the occasion of the so-called Jewish "Purim" holiday, starting from Monday afternoon until next Thursday dawn.


Palestinian warnings

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry had warned of the dangers of calls by extremist Jewish organizations to carry out large-scale storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Tuesday and tomorrow, Wednesday, calling for urgent international intervention to stop targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The ministry added that the provocative incursions into Al-Aqsa under the shadow of an extremist Israeli government threatened a massive explosion with unimaginable consequences in the arena of conflict, and held the Israeli government responsible.

The Association of Palestinian Scholars warned against the Israeli occupation forces and settlers organizing a large-scale storming of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque during the days of the current week, and Jerusalemite calls were launched to confront the settlers’ incursions, and to intensify the travel and attachment to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque today and tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners Club announced that the Israeli occupation forces arrested 8 Palestinians from separate parts of the West Bank.

The Captive Club said that the campaign of arrests took place in the town of Tuqu', southeast of Bethlehem, and Dahiyet al-Salam in occupied Jerusalem, and the detainees were referred for investigation.

Occupation forces demolish a Palestinian house in Jerusalem (Anatolia)

Ben Gvir's remarks

In the context, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned in the strongest terms the statements of the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who called for abandoning what he sees as a security lull from the Israeli side during the month of Ramadan.

The ministry said - in a statement - that these statements would "ignite more fires in the arena of conflict, especially as they fall within the framework of the Judaization of Jerusalem."

The Israeli Minister Ben Gvir had demanded the continuation of the demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan.

Israel Radio quoted Ben Gvir as saying, "It is no secret that there is an understanding among our security forces that during the month of Ramadan one should not breathe and the law should not be applied."

The Israeli occupation authorities demolished 9 residential homes, claiming they were built without a permit, in East Jerusalem, Hebron, and Jericho in the West Bank.

The effects of the previous settler attack on Hawara (Al-Jazeera)

Hawara attack

Yesterday, Monday, Israeli settlers launched an attack on Palestinian homes in the town of Hawara, south of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, which resulted in the injury of 4 Palestinians, including a child.

And the Anadolu Agency reported that dozens of settlers attacked Hawara, throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles, and confrontations broke out between the Palestinians and the settlers, who sought refuge with the occupation army forces present in the place.

For its part, the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority, quoting an Israeli security source, said that 4 Palestinians were injured in the settlers' attack, 3 of whom were stoned and the fourth suffocated as a result of inhaling gas canisters fired by the army.

On February 26, Hawara witnessed unprecedented attacks by settlers, which resulted in the death of a Palestinian, the injury of dozens of others, and the burning and destruction of dozens of homes and cars, after two settlers were killed in a shooting near the town.