Israel police cut power to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound speakers during prayer time

Israeli police cut off power to speakers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday evening, disrupting the call to prayer, guards at the holy site said.

External wires connected to mosque speakers next to the Mughrabi Quarter and Western Wall courtyard were cut by Israeli officers, stopping the call to prayer for isha, the final prayer of the day, from being broadcast, according to the guards.

A number of officers climbed onto the roof of the Islamic Museum next to the Mughrabi Gate to Jerusalem's Old City and cut electricity wires, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported the guards as saying.

The power was reportedly cut by police because senior Israeli officials were attending a celebration of Israel's "independence day" nearby.

The deliberate power cut at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is the third most sacred site in Islam, came after Israeli police expelled worshippers and cut electricity wires at the Bab Al-Rahma prayer hall within the compound earlier this week.

Israeli forces stormed the hall on Monday night, reportedly throwing copies of the Quran to the ground and photographing worshippers inside.

Al-Aqsa and other Muslim and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem often come under attack by Israeli forces and settlers.

This year has seen a surge in Israeli violence against Palestinians, after a far-right government came to power in Israel. More than 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers since the start of 2023.