Extremists Burn Palestinian Homes, Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque
Illegal Israeli-Jewish settlers burned two homes belonging to a Palestinian family in Jalud, south of Nablus, in the early hours of Tuesday. This occurred only a few hours after the family had returned following nearly two months of displacement due to forced eviction.
The family had previously left their homes in July after months of repeated harassment and attacks by illegal settlers. The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported that a large group of settlers entered the village shortly after the family’s return and set fire to both houses, resulting in severe damage to the buildings and their contents.
Residents attempted to confront the attackers before Israeli occupation forces arrived at the scene. Local sources told WAFA that the forces did not stop the settlers, but instead provided protection and sent reinforcements to the area. The family was ultimately forced to flee once again under threat of weapons.
Al Mayadeen reported that Jalud and neighbouring villages south of Nablus frequently face settler attacks, land seizures, and the destruction of property and crops. For this family, Tuesday’s arson ended their homecoming, which had lasted only a few hours.
Al-Aqsa Stormed
In occupied Jerusalem, hundreds of Israeli-Jewish settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex through the Mughrabi Gate on Tuesday morning under heavy police escort. This intrusion occurred on the fourth day of the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
According to QNN, the settlers performed religious rituals and prayers within the complex, accompanied by singing and clapping. The day before, 1,731 settlers entered Al-Aqsa under Israeli police protection, while roads leading to the Old City and the mosque were closed to facilitate their movement.
Palestinian sources noted that Israeli ministers Yisrael Katz and Itamar Ben-Gvir were among those who entered the complex on Monday. On Sunday, approximately 1,500 settlers entered Al-Aqsa, with some bringing plant offerings to the mosque’s courtyard area.
This series of intrusions has been accompanied by stricter restrictions on Palestinian residents. Israeli occupation forces closed main roads and routes around the Old City and limited movement near Al-Aqsa while securing access for the settler groups.
Illegal settlers also attacked Jerusalem residents near the Damascus Gate—known in Arabic as Bab al-Amoud—in the early hours of Tuesday. Video footage circulated by the Quds News Network shows dozens of settlers involved in the attack, while Israeli security forces were deployed to the scene.
Authorities closed several roads and paths around the Old City during the settlers’ movement. These closures added further obstacles for residents attempting to traverse one of the main access points to Jerusalem, amidst the ongoing series of holiday celebrations in the area.