Dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by armed police, entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning through the Moroccan Gate, in yet another display of power that many see as part of a systematic effort to undermine the site’s sanctity and history.  

Witnesses described the group moving through the eastern and western sections of the compound, performing rituals while police officers blocked Palestinian worshippers from entering. Identification cards were confiscated at the gates, and strict barriers were placed on residents of Jerusalem and Palestinian citizens of Israel, leaving many standing outside the holy compound.  

The restrictions and repeated intrusions have deepened frustration among locals who view them as deliberate provocations aimed at transforming the spiritual and cultural identity of Al-Aqsa. Calls continue across the city for people to remain present at the mosque to protect it from ongoing attempts to alter its deeply rooted character.  

Al-Aqsa, one of the holiest sites in the world, has increasingly become a symbol of resistance and perseverance amid a wider genocidal war. The repeated incursions, carried out under the protection of heavily armed police, have turned moments of worship into acts of endurance for those determined to safeguard their heritage and right to pray freely.