In commemoration of the first day of the Jewish holiday of Hannukah, scores of Israeli settlers stormed the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of the police on 18 December.

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

According to media reports, Israeli troops stormed the holy site earlier in the day through the Mughrabi Gate, forcefully clearing Palestinian worshippers out of the way to make room for the planned settler incursion.

The Israeli police force also reportedly prevented worshippers from entering the mosque altogether.

Recently, far-right settler groups have been planning and calling for a large storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque to celebrate Hannukah. These provocative incursions are set to continue for eight days as part of celebrations for the Jewish holiday.

Palestinian resistance factions, including Hamas and the newly formed, West Bank-based Lion’s Den group, have released statements calling for mass mobilization – starting today – to prevent the settler incursions for the eight days of Hannukah.

Just one day earlier, Hamas announced that they would hold Israel responsible for the preplanned raid into the mosque.

Incoming Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir – who is known for his racism and extreme policy plan – vowed to take part in the Al-Aqsa incursions as part of the Hannukah commemoration last month.

“Let everyone know that I will ascend the Temple Mount,” Ben Gvir said on 27 November. Ben Gvir has stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque with settlers on several occasions and has also called for the shooting of unarmed Palestinians.

The prospective national security minister also announced that he plans to relax open fire regulations for Israeli security forces, potentially green-lighting deadly force against any Palestinian possessing stones or firebombs.

The voting in of such a government coincides with – and is expected to reinforce – an already significant surge in Israeli violence and oppression against Palestinians, which has resulted in increased resistance activity against the occupation, particularly across the West Bank and in the city of Jerusalem.