Israeli Minister Prays at Al-Aqsa, Drawing Condemnation from Turkey, Saudi Arabia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, a highly sensitive site in Jerusalem's occupied West Bank, on Sunday. He publicly asserted that he prayed there, an act that directly challenges the longstanding rules governing one of the Middle East's most contentious religious sites.

Under a decades-old "status quo" agreement between Israel and the Muslim authorities, the Al-Aqsa complex is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation. This agreement permits Jews to visit the site but explicitly prohibits them from praying there.

As reported by Al Arabiya, a video released by a small Jewish organization, Temple Mount Administration, depicts Ben-Gvir leading a group of individuals walking within the complex. Another video circulating online appears to show Ben-Gvir engaging in prayer, although the content of this specific video has not been verified.

The minister's visit to the complex, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, occurred on Tisha B'av, a solemn day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of two ancient Jewish temples believed to have stood at the site centuries ago.

The Waqf, the Islamic foundation responsible for managing the complex, reported that Ben-Gvir was among 1,250 others who ascended to the site and who allegedly prayed, shouted, and danced.

Israel's official policy acknowledges and accepts the established rules that restrict non-Muslim worship at the complex, which holds immense religious significance as the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism.

Ben-Gvir has visited the site previously and has openly advocated for allowing Jewish worship there, a stance that has prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue statements reaffirming that this does not represent official Israeli policy.

In a released statement, Ben-Gvir declared that he prayed for Israel's victory over the Palestinian Hamas militant group in Gaza and for the safe return of Israeli hostages. He also reiterated his call for Israel to fully annex the entire Gaza territory.

The Al-Aqsa complex, perched on a hillside within Jerusalem's historic Old City, remains one of the most volatile locations in the broader Middle East.

Speculation regarding potential alterations to the complex's rules has ignited widespread anger across the Muslim world and has, on previous occasions, fueled violent confrontations. Fortunately, there were no direct reports of violence stemming from Sunday's events.

Provoking International Condemnation from Muslim Countries 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and several Arab nations have vehemently condemned Israel's repeated actions, which they perceive as provocations, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex.

In a statement quoted by Anadolu, the OIC asserted that Ben-Gvir's intrusion is part of Israel's concerted attempts "to change the historical and legal status quo in the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque."

The Jeddah-based organization called upon the international community to uphold its responsibility in halting Israel's severe violations targeting sacred Islamic and Christian sites in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a stern warning, stating that Israel's practices by government officials at the Al-Aqsa Mosque "only serve to fuel conflict in the region." The Kingdom emphasized that these actions "violate international laws and norms" and actively undermine peace efforts.

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized Ben-Gvir's intrusion as "flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law" and an "unacceptable provocation and escalation."

A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, condemned Ben-Gvir's visit, describing it as "crossing all red lines."

He appealed to the international community, especially the US government, "intervene immediately to put an end to the crimes of the settlers and the provocations of the extreme right-wing government in al-Aqsa mosque, stop the war in the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid," in a published statement.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas also condemned Ben-Gvir's intrusion as a "criminal act" that poses a direct threat to both regional and international peace and security. In a statement, Hamas asserted that the incursion was part of "increasingly intensifying crimes against the Al-Aqsa Mosque" and an expansion of Israel's broader attacks on the Palestinian people, land, and holy sites.

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas condemned Ben-Gvir's intrusion as a "criminal act" that poses a direct threat to regional and international peace and security.

In a statement, Hamas said the incursion was part of "an intensifying crime against Al-Aqsa Mosque" and an expansion of Israel's broader attacks on Palestinian people, land, and holy sites.

As reported by Al Arabiya, Turkey also openly denounced Ben-Gvir's actions, which included leading a Jewish prayer within the mosque complex.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We strongly condemn the raid carried out on the Al-Aqsa Mosque by certain Israeli ministers, under the protection of Israeli police and accompanied by groups of Israeli settlers."

It further declared, "The security of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the preservation of Jerusalem’s sacred identity are not only regional priorities but also a primary responsibility on behalf of humanity’s collective conscience."

Following Ben-Gvir's visit, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in a release that Israel's policy to maintain the status quo at the complex "has not changed and will not change," seeking to reassure international stakeholders.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque stands as the third holiest site in the world for Islam. Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, asserting it as the historical location of two ancient Jewish temples. Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is situated, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Israel subsequently annexed the entire city in 1980, a move that has never received international recognition.

Editor’s Choice: Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Joins Thousands in Sydney Pro-Palestine March

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News