Police protect Israeli settlers storming Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli settlers have repeatedly stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem with the protection of the police force.

According to Middle East Eye citing Palestinian news agency WAFA on May 6th, multiple groups of Israeli settlers toured the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third holiest site in the world for Muslims.

Amongst the group was the far-right rabbi Shimshon Alboim who has called for the mosque to be destroyed and in its place built an Israeli temple.

The mosque is stormed by the settlers on days of cultural or religious significance and a petition has been released by the extremist “Temple Groups” urging far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to allow them unrestricted access to Al-Aqsa Mosque on 26 May.

The 26th May is known as “Jerusalem day” and marks Israel’s 1967 capture and occupation of East Jerusalem.

Despite the fact that Israeli settlers are able to storm the mosque under police protection, access to the mosque was restricted for the city’s Muslim community during the month of Ramadan.

The Israeli authorities cited safety concerns as their reasoning for restricting and a government spokesman claimed that the restrictions were aimed at “people seeking to foment violence and attacks.”

Fears around the future of the mosque have been growing amongst the Palestinian community who fear that far-right Israeli groups have plans to destroy the mosque entirely. 

The Palestinian Ministry for Foreign Affairs warned of posts being shared by Israeli settlers on Hebrew speaking social media sites that threatened to destroy the mosque.

The mosque has been a regular flashpoint for conflict and for provocation by Israeli settlers.

It was only in 2003 that the Israeli government first allowed settlers access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque site, which they claim is home to two ancient Jewish temples.

Middle East Eye/WAFA/Al-Jazeera/Maghrebi