RAMALLAH, Feb 17 (KUNA) -- Dozens of Israeli extremist settlers on Tuesday stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, Quds Governorate said.
In a press statement, the governorate said the settlers brought in prayer papers and leaflets marking what they call the "Hebrew new month," and performed Talmudic rituals in the mosque's courtyards under heavy security.
Israeli occupation police allowed the entry of "printed prayers" late in January, making the use of such papers and prayers during incursions a near-daily practice, it said.
Israeli occupation forces continue to impose strict restrictions on Muslim access to Al-Aqsa and have issued hundreds of expulsion orders against Jerusalemites as part of ongoing pressure, the governorate explained.
In a separate statement, the governorate said occupation authorities have blocked logistical plans to receive worshippers at Al-Aqsa and issued more than 250 expulsion orders since the start of the year.
Pressure has also targeted Islamic Waqf employees, with about 25 staff barred from the mosque and four arrested, in an attempt to weaken the Waqf's ability to manage the site and organize religious activities, it added.
The occupation has prevented Ramadan preparations, including installing shade canopies, setting up temporary field clinics, and other necessary arrangements to ensure worship proceeds normally, the governorate mentioned.
It also reported an escalation after an extremist religious group, known as the "Temple Mount School," announced longer morning incursion hours, adding an extra hour to the usual period.
This came a week after so-called "Temple organizations" sent an urgent letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling for "ensuring Israeli sovereignty and Jewish freedom of worship" at the site during Ramadan, the governorate noted.
The occupation's Ramadan plan includes tight limits on West Bank Palestinians entering Jerusalem - especially on Fridays - capping worshippers at 10,000 and restricting entry to men over 55 and women over 50, subject to prior approvals, according to the governorate. (end) nq.as.lr