Thousands of Jewish worshippers enter Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

Thousands of Jewish worshippers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem on Thursday, with some holding prayers at the site under Israeli police protection, according to Israeli media reports, said Xinhua.

The visits took place during Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day.

Beyadenu, an Israeli group advocating Jewish prayer at the compound, said about 3,000 Jewish visitors had entered the site during the day, while hundreds more were waiting outside.

Videos circulated by Israeli media showed groups of Jewish people walking through the compound, reciting religious texts and singing as Israeli police officers stood nearby.

In one video, several visitors were seen holding Israeli flags near the Dome of the Rock and singing the Israeli national anthem together with Israeli lawmaker Amit Halevi.

The group said about a dozen people had been detained for praying in the western section of the compound, where Israeli police had previously imposed tighter restrictions.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician who has repeatedly called for expanding Jewish prayer rights at the site, was among the visitors. He was seen openly praying while holding a religious text.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as Al-Haram Al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, is one of the most sensitive religious sites in the region. It houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock and is regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam.

Under a long-standing status quo arrangement governing the compound, Muslims are allowed to pray there, while non-Muslims may visit during designated hours but are not permitted to conduct religious rituals.

Israel seized East Jerusalem, including the Old City, in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, a move not recognized by the international community.