Led by the extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, hundreds of settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, under heavy protection by Israeli occupation forces, on the second day of the Jewish holiday known as “Sukkot”.

Ben-Gvir broadcast videos of prayers he performed with several extremists atop the Bab al-Rahma Mosque within Al-Aqsa, while the settlers who stormed Al-Aqsa from the Mughrabi Gate carried out provocative tours, performed Talmudic rituals, cut, and sang loudly, especially upon reaching the Bab al-Masalla (Qibli Prayer Hall) gate.

These incursions come amid warnings from Jerusalem residents about the dangers of settler practices and the exploitation of Jewish holidays and religious occasions to escalate attacks against the mosque and Islamic holy sites.

The settlers’ incursions occur under strict guard by Israeli occupation forces, who secure the settlers and expel Palestinian worshippers from their mosque, alongside expanding expulsion orders against Jerusalemite female and male worshippers. Jewish settlers yesterday performed dance circles in the eastern courtyard of Al-Aqsa, which they treat as their unofficial synagogue, while mosque guards affiliated with the Islamic Waqf are prevented from approaching during the incursions, and occupation police tighten restrictions on worshippers at all times, not only during incursions.

A storming group from the “Temple Mount Religious School” performed shows, singing, and clapping in front of the Qibli Mosque inside Al-Aqsa, after occupation police imposed new measures preventing worshippers and Waqf guards from being present in the surrounding courtyards.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of raids and arrests across various parts of the West Bank on Wednesday, focusing on Al-Arroub camp north of Hebron, raiding dozens of homes, detaining over 50 citizens, and conducting field interrogations.

The occupation forces assaulted citizens by beating them after searching, handcuffed and blindfolded them, and interrogated them on-site after turning the Al-Arroub youth center into an interrogation center, before releasing them later.

Occupation soldiers fired live bullets at worshippers leaving dawn prayers at the camp mosque and beat several of them.

In the town of Beit Ummar north of Hebron, occupation forces arrested the teenager Mohammad Ahmed Al-Alami after raiding his family home.

In Bethlehem, Israeli forces stormed Beit Fajjar town south of Bethlehem and arrested freed prisoner Mohammad Jalal Taqatqa (29) after raiding and searching his father’s home.

They also raided the town of Al-Khader to the south and the village of Al-Shawawra to the east, deploying their vehicles on the streets.

Israeli forces stormed Hizma town northeast of Jerusalem and arrested Abdul Qader Abu Al-Sheikh, his son Yassin, Salim Khattab, and his nephew child Khattab Sharaf Khattab after raiding and searching their homes, vandalizing contents, and intimidating residents.

These arrests are part of a daily campaign by occupation forces in West Bank cities and towns, targeting especially young men, activists, and freed prisoners. The pace has escalated since the start of the war on Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, resulting in thousands of Palestinians being arrested.

A Palestinian child was injured Wednesday by occupation forces’ gunfire during a raid on Balata camp east of Nablus. Israeli special forces infiltrated the market street, Al-Jamaseen neighborhood, and Al-Kaabi neighborhood in Balata camp, later reinforced by occupation army reinforcements.

The occupation forces imposed a siege on the camp, closed its entrances, besieged several homes amid gunfire sounds, and detained hundreds of school students inside the camp.

South of Nablus, clashes erupted after settlers, protected by occupation forces, stormed the lands of Aqraba town amid settler attacks.

Settlers attacked olive pickers in Qarqafa area south of Aqraba town south of Nablus. Settlers also stole olives from lands in Burin south of Nablus, adjacent to the Yitzhar settlement.

Settler groups escalate their attacks on Palestinian lands during the olive harvest season every year, violating farmers’ rights and causing them significant losses.

Israeli occupation forces announced the closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron to worshippers on Wednesday and Thursday due to Jewish holidays. The closure includes the mosque’s corridors, courtyards, and sections, banning worshippers from entering under the pretext of Jewish holidays.

Occupation measures against the Ibrahimi Mosque have escalated, including banning the call to prayer, tightening entry through electronic gates and inspections, obstructing mosque staff work, and preventing them from performing their duties.