Screengrab from a video shows Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, in the Old City of Jerusalem. X/
Quds News Network
The visit is Ben Gvir's eleventh as minister to the disputed area, located in occupied east Jerusalem, which contains Islam's third-holiest site and is Judaism's holiest place, revered as the location of the first and second Jewish temples.
Hamas condemned the visit, calling it a "deliberate provocation" that "violates the sanctity of Al-Aqsa and the feelings of Muslims worldwide."
The Palestinian group added that the visit coincided with the "painful anniversary" of deadly clashes in Jerusalem on October 8, 1990, in which at least 15 Palestinians were killed.
Ben Gvir's visit was conducted as Israel and Hamas were engaging in the third day of talks in Egypt to reach an end to the two-year war in Gaza.
The security minister has previously threatened to quit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government unless Hamas is destroyed.
Videos circulating on social media showed Ben Gvir walking on the esplanade accompanied by a group of religious Jews singing liturgical songs.
The Waqf, the Jordanian custodian of the site, said 1,300 "extremist Jews" went into the compound Wednesday morning.
Jordan's foreign ministry condemned the visit as "a flagrant violation" of the status quo at the compound, an unwritten agreement which forbids non-Muslim prayer on the site.
In recent years, the status quo understanding between Israel and Jordan has been repeatedly violated by Jewish visitors, including members of the Israeli parliament.
Ben Gvir conducted a public prayer on the flashpoint site in August.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem and annexed it in 1967, in a move not recognized by the international community.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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