Ramallah, Oct 13 (Petra) – Hundreds of Jewish extremists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram Al Sharif compound in occupied Jerusalem on Monday escorted by police on the last day of the Jewish holidays of Sukkot.

Settlers in groups broke into the compound from Al Maghrabah Gate and performed prayers, including the "epic prostration" and wearing priestly garb, while others carried so-called "plant offerings" for the holidays, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem that administers the holy site said in a statement.

The latest breach of Al Aqsa, one of Islam's holiest shrines, took place as Israeli occupation forces tightened security in the walled Old City of Jerusalem, erecting iron barriers at the gates and denying entry to Muslim worshippers and local Arabs.

In the occupied West Bank, hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed Joseph's Tomb east of Nablus, in the north of the West Bank, last night under heavy military protection, and carried out prayers inside the shrine.

The raid triggered clashes with Palestinian protesters, but no injuries were reported.

Also in the West Bank, Israeli forces launched a series of raids across towns and villages, where 19 Palestinians, including ex-prisoners, were arrested, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club said.

//Petra//SS