Israeli minister's mosque storming ignites global outrage

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem has sparked widespread international condemnation amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This event marks Ben-Gvir's sixth visit to the sacred site since joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in 2022.

On Wednesday, Ben-Gvir entered the mosque accompanied by over 24 settlers and substantial police protection, coinciding with heightened tensions leading up to the Jewish Passover holiday scheduled for April 12-20, as reported by an official from Jerusalem’s Islamic Endowments Department.

The Israeli minister's actions have drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Hamas, which labeled the raid as “a dangerous escalation” within Israel’s broader campaign against the Palestinian people. Hamas urged Palestinians to confront Israeli forces to protect the site and called for action from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in response to Israel’s “systematic violations.”

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the storming, describing it as “a deliberate provocation” that undermines the mosque’s “established historical and legal status quo.” Officials emphasized that Israel holds “no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.”

Saudi Arabia also criticized Israel’s persistent violations of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, reiterating its commitment to Jerusalem's historical and legal status. Similarly, Egypt denounced the incursion as a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide, reaffirming Al-Aqsa’s status as an exclusive site for Muslim worship.

Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Israeli authorities have implemented severe restrictions on Palestinian access from the West Bank to East Jerusalem. Many Palestinians interpret these measures as part of a broader strategy to Judaize East Jerusalem and diminish its Arab and Islamic heritage.

Israeli policies have facilitated near-daily settler access to the disputed area since 2003, with restrictions primarily in place on Fridays and Saturdays. While recognized by Muslims as their third-holiest site, Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, asserting it as the location of two ancient temples.