On the first day of the “Festival of Lights,” known in Israel as “Hanukkah,” the Israeli occupation forces imposed a comprehensive cordon around the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, and removed dozens of worshipers from the mosque, while the number of those storming Al-Aqsa in one hour did not exceed 22 settlers. 

The number of those who stormed Al-Aqsa yesterday was 114, including 64 over a period of 3 and a half hours in the morning, with an average of 21 stormers per hour throughout the morning hours.

In contrast, the occupation police restricted the entry of worshipers and students of Al-Aqsa Sharia School to the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque, launched a drone into the sky of Al-Aqsa, prevented the worshipers from gathering on the terraces, forced more than 15 worshipers to leave the mosque, arrested worshiper Nour Mahameed, and expelled worshiper Muntaha Amara from the Old City.

Despite the intensive calls from the extremist Temple groups, and despite the participation of a number of their leaders, including Moshe Feiglin, one of Netanyahu's close allies, the extremists' presence was very weak.

The occupation police allowed the invaders to perform the biblical rituals as they wished in the eastern courtyard of Al-Aqsa, and to prostrate themselves in what is known as the “epic prostration” at its gates.