Ben Gvir leads hundreds of Jews into the holy complex in Jerusalem

Jerusalem was once again engulfed by tensions after Itamar Ben Gvir, the Israeli National Security Minister, along with a large group of Jewish worshippers, penetrated the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, questioning the long-standing status quo agreement at one of the world’s most volatile religious hotspots.

Known for his radical views, the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accompanied hundreds of Jews to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, precisely on the Jewish day of mourning, Tisha B’Av. This move was carried out at one of the holiest and most controversial sites in the world.

Located in East Jerusalem, this complex is the third holiest site for Muslims, while for Jews it represents the ground where the First and Second Temples once stood. Images captured in the early morning hours show Ben Gvir and hundreds of followers as they enter the compound.

According to the status quo rules, overseen by Jordan, Jews are allowed to visit the site but not to perform religious rites. However, many of today’s participants engaged in prayer right there.

In a video shared on social media, Ben Gvir stated that Jews “were praying and feel like the true owners of this space.”

“On Tisha B’Av we remember the destruction of the Temple, but at the same time we witness the extraordinary progress on the Temple Mount. Above all, look at what is happening here. Jews are praying and feeling like the rightful owners of this place; this has never happened before. Moreover, in more and more sectors we have reduced terrorist attacks by 85%. Everyone understands that the sovereign authority here is the State of Israel. There is still work to be done and, with God’s help, we will move forward,” he declared.

This action is expected to provoke strong reactions, as recently Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and Islamic bodies have regularly criticized these types of visits and prayers, calling them a flagrant violation of the status quo.

Meanwhile, the Israeli administration has confirmed that the official stance on the management of the compound remains unchanged, but such acts continue to keep the climate of clash between Israelis and Palestinians alive.