West Bank27 September, 20262 min read
Palestinian Presidency Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh Says Israeli Settlers Storming Al-Aqsa Is Dangerous Provocation
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1,143 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa during Sukkot, prompting Abu Rudeineh's condemnation. Israeli authorities closed Mughrabi Gate after the Al-Aqsa intrusion by settlers.
9 outlets told this the same way.
1,143 Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa
The Palestinian Presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Israeli settlers storming Al-Aqsa is "playing with fire and a dangerous provocation to Muslims around the world." Abu Rudeineh said the storming involved 1,143 settlers in successive groups from the Bab al-Maghariba under police protection during the morning raid period on the second day of the "Feast of Tabernacles."
WAFA said Israeli occupation authorities closed the Mughrabi Gate on Sunday after 1,143 colonists stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the morning hours through the Mughrabi Gate under heavy protection from Israeli police. WAFA added that settlers performed Talmudic rituals and prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards, particularly near the Cotton Merchants' Gate (Bab al-Qattanin), while bringing what are known as "plant offerings" into the courtyards.
Closures, Rituals, and Dispute
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that 1,500 settlers stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups in sequence from the direction of Bab al-Maghariba under heavy protection by the occupation police. QNA said the courtyards witnessed settlers performing Jewish rituals and prayers, especially near the Qattanin Gate, alongside the introduction of "vegetal offerings" into its yards.
TRT عربي said the Jerusalem Governorate described a separate episode in which 260 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in successive groups through the Moroccan Gate under the guard of Israeli police during the morning intrusion period on the second day of the "Sukkot" holiday. TRT عربي also said the governorate described the events as a "continuous violation of the historic and legal status quo that exists at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque."
War Talk and Regional Repercussions
Al Jazeera net said escalation at Al-Aqsa coincided with occupation authorities imposing a total closure on the West Bank for the Jewish “Feast of the Crown,” while the army raised its state of alert. Al Jazeera net reported that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a wide-ranging war in the West Bank and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, urging the application of the “Gaza model” there.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry condemned the repeated incursions by settlers into Al-Aqsa under Israeli police protection and warned of the ramifications of Israeli measures and strict movement restrictions on Palestinians, while rejecting statements by Israeli officials calling to expand operations and undermine the Palestinian Authority. Hamas said the Israeli incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem, along with accompanying Jewish rituals and repressive measures, "will not change the Arabic and Islamic identity of Jerusalem."