Israeli settlers and extremists have once again stormed the compound of the al-Aqsa Mosque in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

According to the Palestinian Foundation for Islamic Waqf, over a dozen settlers, accompanied by a group of Israeli intelligence agents, raided the site on Monday.

The Palestinian worshipers reportedly confronted the settlers, prompting the Israeli police to seize the personal cards of a number of worshipers in the mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque has been witnessing almost daily occurrences of incursions and violations by Israeli settlers and extremists over the past few months.

Israeli police take position at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound during clashes with Palestinians. ©AFP

According to local Palestinian officials, Israeli forces have arrested nearly 100 Palestinian women over the past three months after they tried to deny the settlers’ access to the religious site.

The Tel Aviv regime has tried to change the demographic makeup of al-Quds over the past decades by constructing illegal settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population. Palestinians say the Israeli measures are aimed at paving the way for the Judaization of the city of al-Quds.

The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds, is a flashpoint Islamic site, also holy to the Jews. The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Press TV, Henry Norr, an activist and political commentator in Berkeley, said the attack is further proof that Israel is not interested in peace with Palestinians at this point.

Pointing to Washington’s support for the Tel Aviv regime, the political analyst said the US administrations have kept silence on Israelis’ violations of the international law in dealing with Palestinians for more than half a century.

“Washington remains in the grip of the pro-Israel lobby,” Norr said, adding that the Zionists in the United States are using the power, wealth and media at their disposal to keep the US government silent on the Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

AR/GHN/HMV