Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has incited Palestinian and international outrage by leading prayers marking a Jewish holiday inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, accompanied by over 1,000 Israeli settlers. The event was conducted under the protection of Israeli police, with Muslim worshippers being blocked from accessing the mosque while the Jewish settler groups were present. This is not the first time such events have occurred; previous instances have led to severe clashes between Palestinians and police, as well as violence between Israeli and Muslim groups.
Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is Islam’s third holiest site, located in Jerusalem, but Israeli authorities have long banned non-Muslims from conducting religious events or displaying religious symbols inside the compound, even though they are permitted to visit the mosque. However, Ben Gvir’s entry into the mosque was protected by the police, sparking criticism from those who believe he is trying to change the situation within Al-Aqsa Mosque and promote its “Judaization.
The incident took place on Tisha Be’Av, a Jewish mourning day commemorating the destruction of the ancient temple. The area is often referred to as Temple Mount, as it is where the ancient second Jewish Temple once stood. The Western Wall is sacred to Jews, while Al-Aqsa Mosque was erected above it in the 7th-8th centuries A.D. under the fifth Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik.
Some reports indicate that over 2,200 Jews breached the compound alongside Ben Gvir. They were filmed performing Talmudic rituals while inside, with police keeping any nearby Palestinians at bay. Following the event, Ben Gvir released a video on social media sites where he declared that Israel will win its war in Gaza and urged not to go to talks in Doha or Cairo, instead focusing on defeating Hamas.
This incident has contributed to increasing tensions within the Israeli government, with moderates like Defense Minister Yoav Gallant openly clashing with Prime Minister Netanyahu and hardliners such as Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The ongoing military prosecution request for five Israeli soldiers accused of gang-raping a Palestinian detainee in Sde Teiman detention camp, as well as the defense ministry’s stance on Hamas and remaining hostages, have further complicated the situation within Israel.
