A controversial visit by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to a highly contested religious site in Jerusalem has drawn sharp condemnation from regional powers and Palestinian leaders. The minister openly prayed at the location, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, despite longstanding agreements restricting Jewish worship there.
The site, revered as the third holiest in Islam and the most sacred in Judaism, has been governed by a delicate status quo since Israel took control of East Jerusalem in 1967. Under these arrangements, non-Muslims are permitted to visit but not to pray. Jordan, which retains custodianship of the compound, denounced Ben-Gvir’s actions as a deliberate provocation.
Palestinian officials and militant groups also reacted strongly. Hamas condemned the move as an escalation of aggression, while the Palestinian Authority accused Israel of violating established boundaries. The Islamic Waqf, which administers the site, reported that Ben-Gvir was among over a thousand Jewish visitors who entered the compound, though his public prayer marked a rare breach of protocol.
Ben-Gvir, who oversees Israeli police forces, has long been a divisive figure, advocating for expanded Jewish access to the site and endorsing the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza. His latest remarks included calls for Israel to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, a stance critics argue could constitute forced displacement.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with stalled ceasefire negotiations and ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Meanwhile, international scrutiny persists, as humanitarian groups report continued casualties and displacement in the conflict.
The minister’s actions have further strained relations with Jordan and drawn criticism from global observers, underscoring the fragility of the status quo at one of the world’s most volatile religious sites.
