Hamas said in a statement: "The settlers' attempt to slaughter a sacrifice after bringing it into Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Al-Ghawanmeh Gate represents a blatant violation of our Islamic sanctities and calls for a general mobilization and widespread mobilization to confront the settlers' attacks and their continued arrogance against Al-Aqsa."
Hamas reiterated its rejection of Israeli policies aimed at "facilitating settlers' incursions into the mosque and allowing them to perform unprecedented Talmudic rituals."
The movement stressed the importance of "continuing the security presence and increasing the presence of all those able to reach Al-Aqsa Mosque, in light of the increasing dangers surrounding it."
For his part, the preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Ekrima Sabri, denounced on Monday the attempt by extremist Jewish groups to bring in and "slaughter sacrifices" into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, stressing that what happened was a "very dangerous act" and a blatant Israeli attempt to impose a new reality on Al-Aqsa.
In a statement, Sabry stressed that "this action is a very dangerous act and constitutes blatant collusion by the Israeli government with extremist Jewish groups, in a blatant attempt to impose a new reality inside the blessed mosque."
He warned against "these provocative steps that cross all red lines," stressing that "any action taken by these groups, with the support of the occupation, aimed at changing the identity of Al-Aqsa is categorically rejected and will be confronted by our people as they always have."
He added, "Our people have sacrificed themselves to preserve Al-Aqsa, and no non-Muslim presence will be allowed there."
He stressed that "preserving Al-Aqsa is a trust incumbent upon the entire Islamic nation, but the Palestinian people alone bear this responsibility today, despite the catastrophes and Islamic and Arab failure, and they will not abandon it no matter how great the sacrifices."
He held Israel fully responsible for the "serious repercussions of this event," stressing that "Israeli security is the one that facilitated the extremists' access to Al-Aqsa and provided them with protection."
He added, "It is inconceivable that a sacrificial offering could be planned without the security services having any information."
He considered what happened to "pour oil on the fire" and required urgent Arab and Islamic action to halt the "blatant violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its worshippers."
He stressed that "the occupation is practicing a systematic racist policy, preventing Muslims from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque while opening its doors to settlers who storm it and commit violations, in a clear violation of the status quo and a blatant breach of freedom of worship and all international laws."
Sabry praised the mosque guards and worshippers who "thwarted the sacrificial attempt," emphasizing that "extremist groups enjoy official support and ongoing incitement to kill Arabs and demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque."
On Monday afternoon, a video circulating on social media showed four settlers approaching Bab al-Ghawanmeh, one of the gates in the western wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police officers are stationed.
The video shows a settler running away from police officers and heading towards the mosque gate, before being arrested by one of the Al-Aqsa Mosque guards and handed over to police officers.
The Israeli settler was placing a sacrifice, a small lamb, in a bag he was carrying while trying to storm the mosque.
Israeli police also arrested three other settlers who were accompanying him before they could storm the mosque. It is unclear whether they will be arrested.
Last April, settlers attempted to bring offerings into Al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the Jewish Passover holiday.
Since 2003, the Israeli police have unilaterally allowed settlers to storm the mosque through the Mughrabi Gate in the mosque's western wall.
The raids take place every day of the week, except Friday and Saturday, under the protection and escort of the Israeli police.
The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments, has been demanding an end to the raids, but the Israeli authorities have not responded.
In recent years, settlers have escalated their violations in the mosque's courtyards by performing Talmudic rituals and prayers.
