RAMALLAH, Palestine, April 6 -- More than 500 illegal Israeli settlers forced their way into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday, Palestinian authorities said.

The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that the settlers entered the flashpoint site under heavy protection from Israeli forces.

Witnesses said that Israeli police personnel were seen stationed inside the compound during the settler intrusion.

Illegal Israeli settlers intensified their intrusions into the Al-Aqsa complex ahead of the week-long Jewish holiday of Passover, which starts on April 12.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, illegal settlers raided the mosque 21 times last month, when Muslims celebrated the ...