Far-right Israelis raid Al-Aqsa Mosque

Hundreds of radical Jews raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection on the 57th anniversary of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem.

In a written statement, the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Administration said, "So far, 1,119 fanatic Jews have raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in 28 groups. The raids by fanatic Jews are continuing."

According to eyewitnesses, the fanatic Jews who carried out the raid performed Talmudic rituals inside the Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

Far-right Israeli groups had previously called for a raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the anniversary of the occupation of East Jerusalem in June 1967.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa also reported that approximately 800 far-right Israelis raided the mosque's courtyard under the protection of Israeli police ahead of the "Flag March."

Sources speaking to Wafa said that former parliamentarian Moshe Feiglin accompanied one of the groups entering the compound.

It was announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not participate in the Flag March.

MORE THAN 3 THOUSAND PERSONNEL ASSIGNED

Far-right radical Jews organize a provocative "Flag March" every year according to the Hebrew calendar to mark Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.

Israel had announced that it had assigned more than 3 thousand personnel for this year's march. Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in the flag march.

During the march, Israeli police close areas where Palestinians live to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. There have been incidents where fanatic Jews, marching while chanting racist slogans and carrying Israeli flags, have attacked Palestinians, their shops, homes, and vehicles.

A "flag march" is held in the city every year to commemorate the capture of East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War in 1967.

Police guard the gates leading to the Old City of Jerusalem, and barriers are placed along the route.