Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister and a far-right figure, has drawn widespread condemnation after praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. This act breached a longstanding arrangement that permits Jewish visits to the site, known as the Temple Mount to Jews, but prohibits prayer. Visuals of his visit depict Ben-Gvir leading prayers, igniting fury among various factions.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office responded, asserting that the nation's policy regarding the site remains unchanged, allowing only Muslim worship. Jordan, which has custodianship over the site, labeled the visit an “unacceptable provocation.” Hamas characterized it as an escalation against Palestinians, while a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed it crossed significant boundaries.
Regarded as the most sacred site for Jews, the area was originally home to two Biblical temples, whereas it holds the third position in holiness for Muslims due to its historical significance to the Prophet Muhammad. Israel gained control over the site after the 1967 Middle East war, with Jordan permitted to retain its custodial role.
Palestinians allege that Israel has gradually undermined this arrangement, noting provisions allowing for Jewish tourists to be observed praying without intervention from Israeli police. The Islamic Waqf, responsible for managing the site, reported that Ben-Gvir was part of a group of 1,250 Jewish individuals who visited the site on Sunday morning.
This marked the first occasion Ben-Gvir publicly prayed there, despite his prior visits. Accompanied by police during his tour, he expressed concern over video footage released by Hamas showing Israeli hostages. He urged for their return while simultaneously advocating for Israel’s full occupation of Gaza and a controversial policy of “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, which experts warn could lead to the forced relocation of civilians—a potential war crime.
Furthermore, Ben-Gvir has faced sanctions from the UK for inciting violence against Palestinian communities within the occupied West Bank. Such developments follow a pattern of escalating tensions within the region, as various stakeholders react sharply to demands for control and access to religiously significant areas.
