Dozens of Israelis storm Al-Aqsa complex in Jerusalem

By Mohamed Ghafri

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Dozens of Israeli settlers on Wednesday forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, according to a Palestinian agency.

In a statement, the Islamic Endowment Department in Jerusalem said the settlers entered the flashpoint site through Al-Mughrabi Gate, southwest of the mosque.

It, however, did not provide an exact figure of the settlers at the site.

Israeli police began allowing the settler incursions in 2003, despite repeated condemnations from the Islamic Endowment Department.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the international community.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report