At least 124 Israeli settlers entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday morning under heavy police protection, as Israeli occupation authorities imposed renewed restrictions on Muslim worshipers seeking access to the Islamic holy site.

According to local sources, the settlers entered the mosque compound in several groups through the Maghariba Gate and toured different areas of its courtyards.

During their presence inside the compound, several settlers reportedly received lectures from rabbis concerning what they described as the “Temple Mount,” while some performed provocative Talmudic prayers at the site.

The incursions have heightened concerns among Palestinians over continued attempts to alter the established religious and historical status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third-holiest site.

While settlers were allowed to enter the compound under police protection, Israeli occupation police tightened restrictions on Palestinian Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa’s entrances and gates.

Local sources said many Palestinians were prevented from entering the mosque, while others faced restrictions on their movement around the holy site.

The contrasting treatment has drawn renewed Palestinian criticism, with residents of occupied Jerusalem accusing Israeli authorities of systematically restricting Muslim access while facilitating settler incursions.

Al-Aqsa Mosque has repeatedly become a flashpoint amid escalating tensions in occupied Jerusalem. Palestinians regard any attempt to impose new practices or restrictions at the compound as a threat to their religious rights and to the site's historic status.

The latest incident comes amid growing concern over increasing settler presence at the holy site and repeated attempts by extremist groups to conduct religious rituals there.

Palestinian officials and religious authorities have repeatedly warned that such actions could further inflame tensions in Jerusalem and across the occupied Palestinian territories.

For Palestinians, Al-Aqsa is not only a place of worship but also a central symbol of their religious, historical and national identity. Any restrictions on Muslim worshipers or changes to the long-standing arrangements governing the compound are therefore viewed as deeply provocative.

The latest settler incursion, carried out under police protection while Palestinian worshipers faced restrictions, has once again placed the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque at the center of mounting tensions in occupied Jerusalem.

Palestinians continue to call for unrestricted access to the mosque for Muslim worshipers and for an end to settler incursions and measures they say threaten the Islamic character and historical status of the holy site. (ILKHA)