Israel's security minister Ben-Gvir enters Al-Aqsa, conducts Jewish prayers and calls for a temple

National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, flanked by rabbis, settlers and Israeli security personnel, entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday and conducted Jewish prayers in the eastern courtyard. Under the 1967 arrangement, non-Muslim worship is prohibited, though Jews may visit, making his actions a direct breach of the status-quo. During the visit he invoked Talmudic rituals, called for the sounding of the shofar and repeatedly mentioned the need for a Jewish temple on the site.

The Jerusalem governorate labeled the intrusion a “dangerous escalation” and an assault on the mosque’s historic and legal standing, a view echoed by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, has staged similar provocations since assuming office in 2022, reflecting a broader settler push to replace the Islamic holy place with a synagogue. The incident occurs amid heightened religious observances, with tens of thousands of Jews gathering for Yom Kippur prayers at the Western Wall. Israeli police have historically allowed daily settler visits to the compound except on Fridays and Saturdays, while broader restrictions on Palestinian worshippers have been imposed this year.