Israeli far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Sunday, where he stated, "We are the owners of Jerusalem," which sparked condemnation from Palestinian and Arab officials following months of rising tensions. His statement came during a morning visit to the holy compound, just days after clashes occurred between Jewish youths and Palestinians during a march in the Old City. Ben Gvir expressed happiness about the visit and referred to it as "the most important place for the people of Israel." He added, "All the threats from Hamas are in vain; we are the owners of the land here in Jerusalem and all of Israel."
The spokesman for Hamas in Jerusalem, Mohammed Hamada, stated in a release that "the barbaric incursion carried out by the Zionist Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, accompanied by a group of extremist settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards, confirms the depth of the danger threatening Al-Aqsa under this fascist Zionist government and the arrogance of its far-right ministers." He added, "Our people will not surrender in the face of this aggression, and we will not leave Al-Aqsa alone."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, commented that "Ben Gvir's attempts to change the status quo at Al-Aqsa will fail, and our Palestinian people will be on alert. His entry into the mosque courtyard early in the morning like a thief will not change the reality nor impose Israeli sovereignty over it."
The Arab League condemned the incursion by the Israeli National Security Minister into the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a "serious escalation that pushes toward igniting and exploding the region." The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the Israeli official's incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque, emphasizing that such "systematic" practices represent a "gross violation" of all international norms and treaties and provoke the feelings of Muslims worldwide. The ministry held the Israeli forces fully responsible for the consequences of these ongoing transgressions.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned Ben Gvir's "incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque," describing it as "an offensive step." The official spokesman of the ministry, Ambassador Sinan al-Majali, affirmed that "the ongoing violations and assaults against Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem, coupled with continuous unilateral actions such as settlement expansion and repeated incursions into the occupied Palestinian territories, threaten further escalation." The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the "incursion into Al-Aqsa Mosque," asserting that "such provocative actions contradict the wisdom and responsibility expected of official figures." They urged Israel to immediately halt provocative practices that fuel the already tense situation in the occupied territories.
Tensions related to Al-Aqsa contributed to a ten-day war in 2021 with the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Hamas has repeatedly warned of retaliation against incursions into the holy site, which is under Jordanian custodianship according to the long-standing "status quo" arrangement meant to contain tensions. Under the status quo arrangements, non-Muslims can visit the compound without being allowed to pray. However, Jewish visitors are increasingly violating that prohibition. Palestinians view the violations of the prayer ban as provocations and fear Israel's attempts to control the site.
