Dozens of settlers stormed the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem today, entering in successive groups through the Mughrabi Gate and making provocative tours of its courtyards under the protection of Israeli occupation forces.

The occupation forces meanwhile imposed tight military restrictions on worshippers seeking to enter the mosque.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupation forces arrested at least 21 Palestinians, among them former prisoners, during sweeping raids and searches in several areas, concentrated in the cities of Tulkarm, Jenin and Hebron.

The arrests coincided with an escalation of settler attacks on olive pickers in the village of Al-Mughayyir, north of Ramallah.