Netanyahu visits Al-Aqsa Mosque complex during Hanukkah, draws condemnation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday for a Hanukkah event. The visit, which included the US ambassador, was swiftly condemned by Palestinian authorities as a provocative act. The site is sacred to both Muslims and Jews and is a frequent flashpoint for tensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Tuesday, marking the Jewish Hanukkah holiday at the sensitive holy site. His presence, alongside US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, has drawn strong criticism from Palestinian officials who labeled the move a provocation.
Palestinian Authorities Decry Provocation
The Jerusalem Governorate, a Palestinian Authority body, issued a statement denouncing Netanyahu's presence at the Western Wall, known to Muslims as Al-Buraq Wall. The authority described the Tuesday visit as a "new provocative move," underscoring the deep tensions surrounding the site. The area is revered by Jews as the Temple Mount and by Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site.
Settler Incursions During Holiday Period
Netanyahu's visit coincided with a reported increase in access to the compound by Israeli settlers during the eight-day Hanukkah holiday, which runs from December 14 to 22. Palestinian sources stated that at least 210 settlers had entered the mosque complex since Monday, a practice Palestinians view as aggressive and a violation of the site's sanctity.
Context of Occupation and Dispute
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound lies in East Jerusalem, which Israel captured and occupied during the 1967 war. Israel later annexed the entire city in 1980, a move not recognized by the vast majority of the international community. The status of Jerusalem and its holy sites remains one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with such visits frequently triggering regional unrest.
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