OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Groups of Jewish extremist settlers stormed the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday through the Bab al-Magharbeh gate under the protection of IOF troops and made provocative tours of the holy site, according to local sources.

The sources added that IOF troops at the gates of the Mosque barred students attending religious circles at the mosque from entering, allowing only those over 50 years of age to enter.

They also pointed out that there was heavy IOF presence in the areas of the Mosque were religious learning circles are held, especially near Bab al-Magharebeh and Bab al-Sisila.

The sources also said that the heavy presence of Israeli occupation troops and police aims to terrorize students attending the many study circles held in various areas of the Aqsa plazas and to provide a comfortable atmosphere for the settlers to enter and desecrate the Mosque at will.

This was corroborated  by the Aqsa Guards, who said that a number of those students were arrested, four of them on Saturday.

A number of extremist Jewish leaders and groups incited Jews to storm the Aqsa Mosque in groups during the Sukkot Jewish festival starting on Sunday.