At least 244 Jewish settlers desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards on Thursday morning.

According to the Islamic Awqaf Authority in Occupied Jerusalem, dozens of police officers escorted the settlers as they were touring the Mosque’s courtyards.

The settlers included 97 students of Israeli universities and religious institutes, 40 government employees and eight intelligence officers.

The Aqsa Mosque is exposed to daily desecration by Jewish settlers in the morning and the afternoon except on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Israeli police close al-Maghariba Gate, which is used by Jews to enter the Mosque, at 10:30 am after the settlers complete their morning tours at the holy site. Later in the afternoon, the same gate is reopened for evening tours by settlers.

During the presence of settlers inside the Mosque compound, entry restrictions are imposed on Muslim worshipers at the entrances leading to the Mosque and their IDs are seized until they leave the holy place.

Source: The Palestinian Information Center