I’s’rael allowed more than 1,000 Jewish worshippers to enter Al-Aq’sa Mosque with groups of up to 180 entering the holy site – the largest number ever permitted by the authorities.
They were seen entering the site, referred to as Temple Mount in Judaism, flanked by Israeli security services.
The move marks a departure from Israel’s previous policy of allowing no more than 30 Jewish Israelis at a time into the site, which was conquered by Israel in the 1967 war and is recognised as occupied territory internationally.
The Islamic Waqf, the organisation that administers Al-Aqsa Mosque, told Middle East Eye that 1,200 Jewish Isr’aelis entered on Wednesday. More than 4,000 have stormed the holy site since the Passover holiday began last weekend.
Israeli police said that “officers safeguarded visits to the Temple Mount in accordance with visitation regulations and group size limitations, which are determined by circumstances such as overall visitor numbers and the police’s ability to ensure public safety and order”.
