Israeli far-right minister Ben-Gvir sparks tensions with Al-Aqsa Mosque visit

Israel’s ultranationalist security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Thursday, claiming to pray for hostages in Gaza.

His visit reignited tensions over one of the Middle East’s most sensitive religious sites.

Why it matters

The Al-Aqsa compound, a focal point of Israeli-Palestinian tensions, is governed by a longstanding “status quo” agreement that restricts non-Muslim prayer. Ben-Gvir’s actions challenge this arrangement, risking further unrest in the volatile region.

Details

• Ben-Gvir posted about the visit on X (formerly known as Twitter), including a photo of himself at the site but no evidence of actual prayer.

• The compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as Al-Aqsa, is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation. The Israeli government officially upholds the arrangement prohibiting non-Muslim prayer.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reaffirmed this official stance following Ben-Gvir’s visit.
• Ben-Gvir, a hardliner in Netanyahu’s coalition, has previously advocated for Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa, sparking criticism and violence in the past.

Zoom in

Ben-Gvir’s ministerial position grants him authority over Israel’s national police force, which has previously blocked ministerial visits to the site for national security reasons.

Zoom out

The visit comes amid ongoing conflict. Following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, where 1,200 Israelis were killed, the war in Gaza has resulted in over 45,300 Palestinian deaths, according to health officials in Gaza.