Israeli Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Compound as Army Expands Operations in Gaza

Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Wednesday, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Local sources reported that dozens of settlers entered the site under the protection of Israeli forces and performed prayers inside the compound, an act Palestinians described as a deliberate provocation.

Under a decades-old arrangement, Jews are permitted to visit the compound but are prohibited from praying there. However, Israeli settlers have increasingly violated this agreement in recent months, often encouraged by far-right leaders. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his provocative visits, has openly called for expanding Jewish prayer at the site, further fueling tensions.

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Military Issues New Reserve Orders

Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced that it had issued 60,000 new reserve orders as it prepares for intensified operations in Gaza City. In addition, 20,000 reservists already serving have been informed that their deployments will be extended.

The military said the decision followed “in-depth discussions” on manpower needs and was approved by the Israeli Defense Minister. “The continuation of combat requires significant resources, and all implications were reviewed before approving the orders,” the army stated on Telegram.

Renewed Assaults in Jabalia and Gaza City

The Israeli military also confirmed that its forces have resumed heavy assaults in northern Gaza, particularly in Jabalia and on the outskirts of Gaza City. Local residents reported intense bombardment and widespread destruction of residential areas.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, said entire neighborhoods have been flattened. “We have testimonies from people that Israel is destroying tower blocks there, ensuring these areas will become lifeless wastelands, uninhabitable for residents,” he said.

Medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic that at least 35 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since early morning. Among the victims were 10 aid seekers shot in central and southern Gaza, raising alarm among humanitarian groups already struggling to deliver relief in the besieged enclave.

Hospitals, many of them running on emergency generators and short of supplies, say they are unable to cope with the rising influx of casualties. Aid workers describe chaotic scenes as families search for missing relatives amid mounting fatalities.

Families Flee South, But Safety Elusive

Despite the escalating danger, thousands of Palestinian families continue to flee south from Gaza City. Reporters on the ground have observed people walking for miles on foot, while others move with donkey carts or cram into overloaded vehicles.

Abu Azzoum noted that families are desperate but aware that no part of Gaza is shielded from Israeli air attacks. “They are moving from areas witnessing heavy Israeli bombardment to areas already overwhelmed with displaced people,” he said.

Southern Gaza, particularly al-Mawasi, has become the primary destination for the displaced. But humanitarian agencies warn the zone is overcrowded with makeshift tents and lacks critical infrastructure, including clean water, food supplies, and medical facilities. Hospitals in Khan Younis and Rafah, already overwhelmed with the injured, cannot absorb a further surge in casualties.

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Widespread Destruction in Gaza

Hundreds of residential buildings have been reduced to rubble in recent days, according to witnesses and local officials. The destruction has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where displaced families struggle to find shelter and access to basic necessities.

As the Israeli military presses forward with its campaign and settlers escalate tensions in occupied East Jerusalem, fears are growing that the conflict will further expand, deepening instability across the region.

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