Against a backdrop of increased tensions, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem on Sunday, resulting in a flurry of controversy. This visit occurred shortly after a Jewish nationalist march in the Old City and in the aftermath of a delicate ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the contentious Al-Aqsa mosque compound in annexed east Jerusalem on Sunday, amidst escalating tensions. The visit took place just three days after Ben-Gvir joined tens of thousands of Jewish nationalists in a march through the Old City and a week after a fragile ceasefire was established in Gaza.
Sharing a photo of himself at the site on Telegram, Ben-Gvir wrote, “Jerusalem is our soul. The threats of Hamas will not deter us, I went up to the Temple Mount!” using the Jewish name for the location.
Hamas, the ruling militant group in Gaza, criticized Ben-Gvir’s previous visit to the site in January and condemned his recent action, stating, “It confirms the depths of danger looming over Al-Aqsa, under this Zionist fascist government and the arrogance of its ministers from the extreme right.”
Israeli police confirmed Ben-Gvir’s visit, noting that it transpired without incident. The Al-Aqsa mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam and is under Jordan’s administration. While non-Muslims are allowed to visit the site, they are not permitted to pray there. The compound also holds significant religious importance for Jews, who revere the Western Wall located beneath it.
Jordan condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions as a provocative and unacceptable escalation, violating international law and the historical and legal status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites, according to the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sinan Majali.
The visits by Jewish nationalists to the site have long drawn criticism from Palestinians and Arab nations, and Ben-Gvir’s visits have garnered heightened attention since he assumed office in December.
The timing of Sunday’s visit is significant as it follows the nationalist march through the Old City, commemorating the capture of east Jerusalem by Israeli forces in the 1967 Six-Day War. The event on Thursday witnessed incidents of violence against Palestinians and journalists, prompting condemnation from the United States for hateful chants such as “Death to Arabs” during the rally.
These developments unfold in the aftermath of a ceasefire established on May 13 between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza, ending five days of cross-border conflict that resulted in the deaths of 33 individuals in Gaza and two in Israel.
Miroslava Salazar with AFP
