Israel’s Ben-Gvir storms Al-Aqsa mosque in occupied East Jerusalem

What the report says

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday, accompanied by settlers, rabbis and security personnel under Israeli police protection, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting. The visit included prayers and remarks that appeared to endorse changing the long-standing arrangement at the site, which is one of Islam’s holiest places and also revered in Judaism.

Al Jazeera reported that Ben-Gvir performed prayers in the compound’s eastern area and referred to the need for a Jewish temple there. The article said his actions took place despite rules under the post-1967 status quo that bar non-Muslim prayer at the site, while still allowing non-Muslim visits. The minister, a leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, has made similar visits before and has drawn repeated condemnation for them.

The Jerusalem governorate condemned the incursion as an escalation and said it threatened the existing historical and legal status of the compound. Palestinian officials and worshippers have long accused Israeli authorities of restricting Muslim access while enabling more frequent settler visits. Al Jazeera noted that Israeli police have allowed daily settler incursions since 2003, with exceptions on Fridays and Saturdays.

The report places the incident in a broader pattern of tension around Jerusalem’s holy sites, where symbolic acts can quickly inflame wider religious and political conflict. In general background, the compound is central to Israeli-Palestinian disputes because any perceived change to its administration or access rules is viewed as highly sensitive by both sides.