Israel prevents Palestinian women from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israeli police have prevented 15 Palestinian women from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday and arrested another woman as she exited from one of Al-Aqsa’s gates on the same day when dozens of settlers stormed the mosque’s courtyards, according to Jerusalem activist Mahmoud Abu Atta.

Abu Atta explained that settlers broke into Al-Aqsa in large groups of up to 40 people.

The activist noted that Israeli police also prevented dozens of children from entering Al-Aqsa to participate in summer camps, which prompted them to protest in front of the mosque’s gates.

For his part, Jerusalem Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Mohammed Abu Teir said that the Israeli objective behind preventing the women and children from entering Al-Aqsa is to reduce Palestinian presence in the mosque

“This scheme began by preventing the men, then women, and finally children,” he said, warning that the next step will be the closure of Al-Aqsa’s gates in the morning so as to allow Jewish settlers to enter.

Abu Teir called on Arab and Islamic governments to take a serious position towards Israel’s policies on Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli police call settlers’ assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque, “non-Muslim visits to the Temple Mount.” Last month, Israel vowed to secure such “visits” and punish those who protest against them.

The city of Jerusalem has been witnessing daily clashes against the backdrop of the breaking into Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish settlers.