Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined more than 2,500 Israeli settlers who entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on July 23, coinciding with the Jewish fast day of Tisha B’Av. The visit triggered strong criticism from Palestinian officials and renewed concerns over tensions at one of the region’s most sensitive religious sites.
According to Palestinian authorities, Israeli security forces imposed strict access restrictions around the compound, allowing large numbers of Jewish visitors while limiting entry for many Palestinian Muslim worshippers. Witnesses and local officials reported that some Palestinians were assaulted or forcibly removed during the operation.
The Jerusalem Governorate condemned Ben-Gvir’s participation, describing it as a “Flagrant violation” of the site’s historical and legal status quo, under which the Islamic Waqf administers the compound while Israel controls overall security. The Governorate accused Israeli authorities of escalating tensions through policies that alter long standing arrangements at the holy site.
Ben-Gvir, who has repeatedly advocated expanding Jewish prayer rights at the compound, has made several previous visits that have drawn international criticism. His latest appearance prompted fresh condemnation from Palestinian leaders, who warned that such actions risk inflaming tensions in Jerusalem and the wider region.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as Al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, is one of the world’s most contested religious sites. Muslims regard it as Islam’s third holiest site, while Jews revere it as the location of the First and Second Temples.
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with international observers continuing to call for restraint and respect for the site’s longstanding status quo to prevent further escalation.
