Jewish settlers raided Al Aqsa Mosque courtyards under the protection of Israeli forces on Wednesday morning.

Om Fahd, one of the women known as the "Murabitat" or "the steadfast", who come to the mosque daily, the third holiest site in Islam, to defend it from Israeli incursions, told MENA correspondent that the Israeli raids were to mark Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which ends Thursday.

Israeli forces had erected steel barriers and blocks near Al Aqsa's main gates to tighten control on Muslim worshipers, she said.

Sources: MENA