Israeli minister offer praye at a holy site in Jerusalem
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has made a visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, where he engaged in prayer, thereby breaching a longstanding arrangement that governs one of the most sensitive locations in the Middle East.
Images and videos from his visit depict Ben-Gvir leading Jewish prayers at the compound, referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount, situated in occupied East Jerusalem.
Praying at this site contravenes a long-standing agreement that permits Jews to visit but prohibits them from praying.
The office of the Israeli prime minister issued a statement asserting that there has been no alteration to Israel’s policy of upholding the status quo agreement, which permits only Muslim worship at the site.
Jordan, the custodian of the site, referred to Ben-Gvir’s recent visit as “an unacceptable provocation”.
Hamas described it as “a deepening of the ongoing aggressions against our Palestinian people”, while a representative for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the visit “crossed all red lines”.
The site holds the utmost significance for Jews as it was the location of two Biblical temples. For Muslims, it ranks as the third holiest site, believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
Israel captured the site from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East war. According to the established status quo, Jordan was permitted to maintain its historical role as custodian of the site, while Israel took control of security and access.
Palestinians accuse Israel of taking measures to undermine these arrangements and express concerns that in recent years, Jewish visitors have frequently been observed praying without intervention from Israeli police.
Waqf, the Islamic endowment responsible for managing the site, reported that Ben-Gvir was among 1,250 Jews who ascended the compound on Sunday morning.
Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist who serves as the national security minister overseeing the police, has visited the site previously, but the Times of Israel noted that this was the first occasion he openly prayed there.
He was accompanied by police officers during his entry and tour of the compound.
In a statement made at the site, Ben-Gvir remarked that the “horror” video of hostages recently released by Hamas, in which they appear emaciated, was intended to exert pressure on Israel, and he called for the return of the hostages.
The minister also reiterated his demand for Israel to occupy the entirety of the Gaza Strip and to promote what he termed as “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the area.
Experts indicate that this could constitute forced displacement of civilians and potentially a war crime.
He has faced sanctions from the UK for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank.
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