Jerusalem Governorate: Attempt to Bring Settlers as Offerings to Al-Aqsa "A Serious Escalation

The Palestinian Governorate of Jerusalem considered the attempts by settlers on Tuesday to bring sacrifices to Al-Aqsa Mosque as a dangerous escalation.

The governorate stated in a statement that eight settlers attempted to storm the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Gate of the Tribes, carrying a goat, three pigeons, and prayer tools (tefillin).

It added that the attempt represents a serious escalation, part of the ongoing and escalating violations by the settlers, and is not merely an individual incursion, but part of an organized campaign to desecrate and Judaize the sanctuary and impose new colonial realities in favor of the Israeli occupation.

The governorate warned that these violations constitute blatant crimes and flagrant violations of all rules of international and humanitarian law and a clear assault on the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It emphasized that the entire area of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, which spans 144 dunams, is a place of pure worship for Muslims, and any attempts to impose the occupation's sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque are null and rejected.

The governorate continued that these violations are taking place with the support, incitement, and official backing of the Israeli occupation government.

It pointed out that the animal sacrifice in the settlers' mindset means offering a goat or small sheep inside the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in an attempt to impose biblical rituals there.

According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center for Human Rights in Jerusalem, the guards of Al-Aqsa Mosque managed to confront the settlers during their attempt to bring in the sacrifices, while the Israeli police arrested them.

Earlier on Tuesday, footage captured by the Anadolu Agency team showed Israeli settlers attempting to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque, leading to a chase between security personnel and some Israelis who infiltrated the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israelis who were arrested in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque were escorted out under the protection of the Israeli police.

The footage also showed the settlers attempting to smuggle a live pigeon inside a bag into Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to the Jerusalem Governorate, 215 settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday, while the number of tourists who entered the mosque through the Israeli tourism gate reached 565.

In a simultaneous escalation with the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the assaults by the army and settlers together led to the death of no less than 1,076 Palestinians, and the injury of about 10,700, in addition to the arrest of more than 20,500 others, according to official data.