Jewish settlers tour al-Aqsa compound, assault Palestinian women

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews toured the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday morning under the protection of Israeli forces, while Israeli police detained Palestinians even as groups of settlers reportedly assaulted worshipers nearby.

A spokesman for the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments told Ma'an that 127 "extremist Jewish settlers" entered the compound via the Moroccan Gate in groups.

Witnesses said that the first group of settlers toured the courtyard of the Dome of the Rock "in a provocative manner," before touring the rest of the compound and exiting via the Chain Gate.

One of the settlers tried to "tear off his clothes inside the compound before security guards intervened and stopped him," said an eyewitness, who told Ma'an he believed the act was part of religious ritual.

Israeli police officers, who entered the compound to protect the settlers, chased Palestinian worshipers including children and women.

Witnesses said the officers detained a woman near al-Ghawanma gate in addition to two men who were identified as Muhammad Abu Gharbiyya and Ribhi Abu al-Hummus. They were reportedly taken to an Israeli police station outside the Chain Gate. more

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