Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate Hanukkah

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A group of illegal Israeli settlers stormed on Sunday Al-Aqsa Mosque under the heavy protection of the Israeli occupation police.

Earlier, the occupation police stormed Al-Aqsa and forcibly expelled Palestinians stationed inside, paving the way for the illegal settlers to storm the compound.

Israeli settlers intend to storm Al-Aqsa for eight days to celebrate the so-called "Festival of Lights," also known as Hanukkah, which extends from December 18-26, as settler groups promoted the storming by announcing free transportation for its members.

Breaking: Scores of Israeli settlers accompanied by police officers break into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of celebrating Hanukkah. pic.twitter.com/81jFpd3Qhh

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 18, 2022

Israeli occupation forces deployed heavily inside Al-Quds Old City in preparation for securing the settlers' incursions and preventing Palestinians from entering the Mosque.

On their part, Palestinian forces, factions, and commissions called on Palestinians to station at Al-Aqsa and defend it. Hamas Spokesperson in occupied Al-Quds, Mohammad Hamada, called for a mobilization, starting Sunday morning, to thwart the occupation’s plans.

The Lions' Den Resistance group called on the Palestinian people to mobilize starting Sunday and for eight days in response to calls by illegal Israeli settlers to storm Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Several weeks ago, the Israeli occupation began taking measures under the pretext of Hanukkah celebrations, as large numbers of settlers intend to storm Al-Aqsa, perform rituals, and hold dance parties and Talmudic seminars inside the Mosque's courtyards.

During Hanukkah, illegal Israeli settlers commemorate the alleged victory of the Hasmoneans in their revolution against the Greeks during the Second Temple period.

A Zionist real estate company recently confirmed that in recent months, it had obtained three bids for expulsion and construction projects, including the construction of 1,400 illegal Israeli settlement units in occupied Al-Quds.

Confrontations, arrests as IOF stormed the Askar camp in Nablus

In a related context, Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces stormed Askar camp in Nablus and besieged a house.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said a citizen was injured by live bullets and reported 7 cases of gas suffocation, including a pregnant woman, during the occupation forces' raid into the camp.

Breaking: Gunfights are heard right now as Israeli occupation forces besiege a house in Askar refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Nablus. pic.twitter.com/TNwxko9kQV

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 18, 2022

تغطية صحفية: من المواجــــهات مع الاحتلال في مخيم عسكر القديم بنابلس pic.twitter.com/XgofNA5siY

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) December 18, 2022

Local sources said, "The occupation forces arrested the citizen Nasser Al-Naqeeb and his son Muhammad, after besieging their house, amid violent confrontations between Palestinian youths and the occupation forces that used heavy gunfire and tear gas canisters."

Israeli occupation snipers were situated at high residential buildings during the raid and started shooting at the resisting Palestinians.

Read more: UN condemns Israeli violence, calls 2022 'deadliest' in West Bank