Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has committed a new provocative act by storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, performing prayer rituals and seemingly calling for the construction of a Jewish temple at the site, which is sacred to Islam.
On October 13, Ben-Gvir, protected by Israeli occupation forces, entered the compound along with a number of Jewish rabbis, settlers, and security personnel. He declared plans to change the historical status quo at the third holiest site in Islam. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Ben-Gvir performed Talmudic rituals and prayers in the eastern courtyard area of the compound.
Under the status quo agreement dating back to 1967, non-Muslims are not permitted to pray at the compound, although Jews are allowed to visit. However, Ben-Gvir said during the incursion: “When I was 14, prayer was forbidden and anyone who muttered was arrested. Today we see redemption. It is moving to be here with you today, and you say we must blow the shofar and bring prayers, and there must be a temple… a temple… a temple… but little by little.”
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, has repeatedly stormed the Al-Aqsa compound since taking office in 2022, drawing waves of widespread condemnation. He frequently advocates for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Israeli-occupied territories and is part of a growing settler movement seeking to take over the compound to build a synagogue in place of the Islamic holy site.
The incident comes as tens of thousands of Jews have participated in Yom Kippur prayers in recent days at the Western Wall, which extends throughout a month leading up to Jewish holidays in September.
The Jerusalem authorities condemned the incident, describing it as a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of the historical and legal status quo of the compound, as well as an attempt to impose new facts on the ground to change the Islamic identity of the site, according to Wafa.
Since 2003, Israeli police have allowed settlers to storm the Al-Aqsa compound daily, except Fridays and Saturdays. Israel often imposes restrictions on Palestinian Muslims, and this year prevented Eid al-Fitr prayers at Al-Aqsa, allowing only 10,000 Palestinians from the West Bank – which has a population of 3.3 million – to attend the first Friday prayer of Ramadan at one of Islam's most sacred sites.
