Israeli Minister Cheers at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gavir prayed, cheered and danced at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the holiest site for Muslims, with hundreds of illegal settlers. He challenged existing rules about the sensitive Muslim religious site by entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday (August 3), Reuters reported. The report said that under a long-standing agreement, Al-Aqsa is run by Jordan’s religious foundation (Waqf). According to this agreement, non-Muslims can enter there, but they are prohibited from praying. According to Israeli government law, non-Muslims are prohibited from praying at the Al-Aqsa compound – because it is considered the third holiest site for Muslims and the holiest site for Jews. The Temple Mount Administration released a video showing Ben-Gavir walking with a group through the Al-Aqsa compound. Other videos purport to show him praying, although Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the videos. Ben-Gavir has previously visited the site and called for Jews to be allowed to pray there. On Sunday, he said he prayed for Israel’s victory over Hamas in Gaza and the release of Israeli citizens held by it. He also renewed his call for the occupation of the Gaza Strip. Hours before the incursion, Ben-Gavir led another procession through Jerusalem’s Old City at midnight. Palestinian officials told the Wafa news agency that the incident had reached “unprecedented levels of political and religious incitement.” After Ben-Gavir and the Jewish incursions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “Our position on the Al-Aqsa compound is unchanged and will not change.” Previous hints of changing the rules at Al-Aqsa had sparked intense anger and violence in the Muslim world. However, there were no immediate reports of violence during the visit on Sunday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, called the visit “a violation of all limits.” “The international community, especially the United States, must intervene now to stop the crimes of the settlers and the provocative actions of the far-right Israeli government,” he said. “The ongoing war in Gaza must be stopped and humanitarian aid must be delivered there.”