Israeli settlers have stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli police, Al Jazeera reports.

Settlers are Israeli citizens living illegally on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa has become a regular target of visits by right-wing Israeli politicians and Israeli settlers, who have stormed the compound on an almost daily basis and performed religious rituals under the protection of Israeli forces.

Under the decades-old status quo maintained by Israeli authorities, Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound in occupied East Jerusalem during specified hours, but they are not permitted to pray there or display religious symbols.