Ben-Gvir Visits Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, Sparks Criticism
JERUSALEM – Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, a move that has caused strong reactions from Palestinian leaders and Muslim authorities.
The Al-Aqsa site is managed by a Jordanian Islamic foundation under a long-standing agreement. According to the rules, Jewish people can visit the compound but are not allowed to pray there. It is Islam’s third-holiest site and the holiest place in Judaism, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Ben-Gvir’s visit happened on Tisha B’Av, a Jewish holy day that remembers the destruction of ancient temples once located on the site. Videos shared online by a Jewish group showed Ben-Gvir walking in the compound. Some other videos, which could not be confirmed, appeared to show him praying—something that is not allowed under current rules.
The Waqf, the Islamic group in charge of the site, said around 1,250 Jewish visitors entered the compound on Sunday. The Waqf said some of them prayed, shouted, and danced—acts considered provocative.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no change in Israel’s policy at the compound and that the “status quo” will remain.
Ben-Gvir has visited the site before and has publicly said that Jews should be allowed to pray there. After his latest visit, he said he prayed for Israel to win the war in Gaza and for the safe return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He also called for Israel to take full control of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian officials strongly condemned the visit. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the visit “crossed all red lines” and called on the international community—especially the United States—to stop what he called crimes by Israeli settlers and to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
There were no reports of violence during or after the visit.
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