Heavily armed Israeli soldiers have been patrolling the area in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City and around the holy site since this morning as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir led settlers inside in another provocative move, Al Jazeera reports.

Local sources cited by the Wafa news agency said the military deployed a special unit in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa to secure the storming and prevent Muslim worshippers from entering.

Settlers also performed Talmudic rituals at the Western Wall, or the Al-Buraq Wall, and near the Bab al-Qattanin or Cotton Merchants Gate into Al-Aqsa.

Netanyahu’s office clarified in a statement that despite all the moves, “the status quo on the Temple Mount has not changed”.