JERUSALEM
By Anees Barghouthi
Dozens of Jewish extremists on Tuesday stormed the Aqsa Mosque compound in the city of Al-Quds (East Jerusalem).
"Settlers, under the protection of Israeli police, stormed the Aqsa compound through the Magharbeh Gate," Mahmoud Abu Atta, spokesman for the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, told Anadolu Agency.
The settlers were led by extremist Jewish Rabbi Yehuda Glick, chairman of Israel's Temple Mount Heritage Foundation.
For several hours, Israeli police prevented Palestinians from entering the compound.
"Israeli police also detained Hossam Sader, a 50-year-old employee of the Aqsa rehabilitation committee," said Abu Atta.
In recent weeks, groups of Jewish settlers – often accompanied by Israeli security forces – have repeatedly entered the Aqsa Mosque complex. The frequent violations anger Palestinian Muslims and occasionally lead to violent clashes.
For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site.
Jews refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two prominent Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied the city of Al-Quds after the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
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