Israel's Far-Right Security Minister Led 1,250 Jews To Pray At Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sparking Massive Outrage
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam, and for Jews, it is the historic Temple Mount, making it often a flashpoint of conflict.
Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has led a group of Israeli settlers to pray at one of Islam’s holiest sites, saying Israel should “announce sovereignty of the whole Gaza Strip.”
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is the third holiest site in Islam, and for Jews, it is the historic Temple Mount, making it often a flashpoint of conflict.
Following Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel made a status quo arrangement with Muslim leaders that the Muslim Waqf, a Jordan-appointed religious authority, would be responsible for managing the inside of the mosque compound while Israel would be responsible for security outside and at the entrances.
The arrangement also stated that Muslims alone would be permitted to worship inside the mosque, while non-Muslims, including Jews, could visit but not pray, which Ben-Gvir directly violated on Sunday, August 3.
Videos shared online showed Ben-Gvir with a group of Israeli settlers storming the mosque compound and praying for Tisha B'Av, a Jewish day of mourning over the destruction of ancient temples that reportedly once stood on the Al-Aqsa site.
Ben-Gvir then said in a video statement at the mosque that Israel should “conquer the whole of Gaza Strip, announce sovereignty of the whole of Gaza Strip, take down every Hamas man and encourage voluntary emigration,” adding that it is the only way to “return the hostages and win the war.”
The Waqf said Ben-Gvir was accompanied by 1,250 Jews who entered Al-Aqsa compound on Sunday, adding that it’s "an unacceptable provocation” and the Palestinian Authority said it "crossed all red lines," according to Reuters.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel's policy of maintaining the status quo at the compound "has not changed and will not change".Ben-Gvir has a long record of provocative acts and has repeatedly visited Al Aqsa Mosque compound in violation of the status quo.In 2021, his visit to Al-Aqsa mosque sparked an 11-day conflict between Israel with Hamas.
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