Israeli Minister's Prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque Stirs International Outcry

Itamar Ben-Gvir's actions at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound challenge the delicate status quo, igniting backlash from Jordan and Palestinian authorities.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right National Security Minister, has ignited fierce international debate following his visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem where he publicly prayed, a move that violates longstanding protocols surrounding this highly contentious site. Video and photographic evidence from the visit showed Ben-Gvir leading Jewish prayers at a location referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount, underscoring his disregard for the established measures that designated the site for Muslim worship only.

This action has been condemned by various local and international leaders. The Israeli prime minister’s office asserted that there have been no changes to the current policy, which maintains that only Muslim worshippers should pray at the site. However, Jordan, which acts as the custodian of the al-Aqsa Mosque, described Ben-Gvir’s visit as “an unacceptable provocation." The militant group Hamas interpreted these actions as a worsening of their ongoing struggles against the Palestinians, while a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asserted that this visit crossed significant moral and ethical boundaries.

Historically, this site is of immense significance to both Jews and Muslims; it is considered the holiest for Jews, who believe it was once home to their two Biblical temples, and the third holiest for Muslims, who regard it as the location of the Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven. Since being captured by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East conflict, this site has been a longstanding focal point of tension. Under the existing status quo, Jordan maintains its custodianship while Israel controls security and public access. Nevertheless, Palestinians allege that recent years have seen a derived threat to this arrangement, pointing to rising incidents of Jewish visitors praying openly, often without intervention from Israeli police.

Previous instances indicate that Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist figure and police overseer, had visited this site before, but this instance appears to mark a pivotal shift due to his open prayers. Surrounding him were police officers as he made his way through the compound. During his visit, he additionally commented on recently released videos of hostages taken by Hamas and expressed his views on the potential for Israel to occupy the entirety of the Gaza Strip, as well as advocating for what he termed “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians — a statement that critics argue may imply forced displacement, which might be classified as a violation of international humanitarian law.

With ongoing turmoil surrounding this visit, experts warn of the potential for increasing unrest and violence in an exceptionally fragile region.