JERUSALEM: In a significant escalation of tensions, 678 Jewish settlers entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as Al-Haram Al-Sharif, in occupied Jerusalem. This incursion was conducted under the heavy protection of Israeli occupation police, raising concerns over the stability of the already fragile situation in the region. According to Jordan News Agency, the Jordan-run Islamic Endowments Department in Jerusalem reported that the settlers, described as hardline, performed Talmudic rituals in the courtyards of the mosque, as well as at its gates and the Buraq Wall, located on the western side of the site. The actions were deemed provocative by the hosting authorities, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the holy site. Eyewitnesses, speaking to Petra's correspondent in Ramallah, described additional activities by the settlers, including provocative dances and songs on Bab al-Silsila Street, a key thoroughfare in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. These events underscore the volatile nature of the situation in the area, which is a focal point of religious significance and political contention.