Dozens of Jewish settlers escorted by police forces on Thursday morning stormed the Aqsa Mosque and desecrated its courtyards.

80 settlers, including 20 military soldiers, 38 institute and university students and one employee from the Israeli antiquities authority entered the Mosque through al-Maghariba Gate and toured its courtyards in morning hours, according to the Islamic Awqaf Authority in Occupied Jerusalem.

The Aqsa Mosque is exposed to daily desecration by Jewish settlers and police forces 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.