RESTRICTION SUMMARY: Jerusalem - 5 June 2022. Israeli settlers enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of the Israeli police, in Jerusalem's Old city.

0.1 SOUNDBITE (in Arabic) Youssef Darwish, a resident of Jerusalem
0.2 SOUNDBITE (in Arabic) a Citizen of Jerusalem.

STORYLINE:

Scores of Israeli settlers escorted by Israeli police broke today into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem and performed rituals across its courtyards, as Muslim worshipers were forced by police to stay inside the southern building inside the compound, according to witnesses.

WAFA correspondent said scores of Israeli settlers entered the holy site in groups and performed rituals and Talmudic prayers there under the protection of Israeli police officers.

Dozens of Muslim worshipers who had been inside the compound since last night were chased by police into the southern building and locked down there to secure the provocative visit of the Israeli settlers.

The latest development comes after nearly two months of growing tensions fueled by increased presence by hardcore Israeli settlers inside the holy site during the past Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Last week, scores of Muslim worshipers were injured by Israeli police as they escorted hundreds of Jewish radicals who stormed the holy site to mark the anniversary of the so-called Israeli unification of East and West Jerusalem.

Jerusalem's Islamic Waqf has repeatedly described the settlers' presence in Al-Aqsa Mosque as "provocative", and said that Palestinian worshippers and guards at Al-Aqsa feel uncomfortable with the presence of Israeli police and settlers touring the Islamic holy site.

Israel captured East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa Mosque is located, during the Six-Day War in 1967 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Footage by /APA