Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Enters Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has conducted his second visit within a week to Jerusalem's sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to Palestinian religious authorities. Witnesses confirmed the far-right politician entered the holy site under substantial Israeli police protection Tuesday, marking his thirteenth documented visit to the location since assuming government responsibilities in 2022.

Ben-Gvir's latest entry follows a similar visit last week during the Jewish Sukkot holiday, which prompted strong Palestinian condemnations. The minister's unauthorized visits violate standard protocols requiring prior approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office for ministerial access to the religious site. His frequent appearances at the compound have intensified since Israel's military operations in Gaza commenced in October 2023, with ten documented visits occurring during this period.

Jerusalem's Islamic Endowments Council reported Monday that the mosque complex has experienced "the worst demolition of its historical and legal status in modern times" throughout 2025. The council detailed "flagrant and unprecedented violations" including large-scale incursions, desecration activities, and attempts to alter the site's Islamic character through Talmudic rituals, chanting, dancing, and ceremonial offerings within the compound.

Al-Aqsa Mosque represents Islam's third-holiest site, while Jewish tradition references the location as Temple Mount. Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the mosque compound, during the 1967 Six-Day War, annexing the entire city in 1980 in a move unrecognized internationally. The International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories illegal last July, specifically calling for settlement evacuations in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.