Ben Gvir storms Aqsa Mosque with wife, 'Israeli' ministers on 'Jerusalem Flag' day

'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Monday, accompanied by his wife and fellow ministers from the 'Israeli' government, in a move widely condemned by Palestinians as provocative.

According to 'Israeli' media outlet Kan, Ben Gvir was joined by his wife Ayala, Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Knesset member Yitzhak Kroizer during the incursion, which came as part of events marking what 'Israel' calls “Jerusalem Day” — the anniversary of its 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem.

Palestinian sources said more than 500 'Israeli' settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound under heavy protection from Israeli occupation forces throughout the day. In one incident, a settler was seen raising the Israeli flag inside the mosque’s courtyards, further inflaming tensions.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem reported that 'Israeli' forces facilitated the settler incursions through heightened security measures, barring Palestinian worshippers and provoking anger among those stationed at the holy site.

The visit by Ben Gvir — a far-right figure known for his inflammatory rhetoric and repeated calls for full Israeli control over the site — is expected to draw international criticism and further strain the already tense situation in Jerusalem.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, has long been a flashpoint in the 'Israeli'-Palestinian conflict, with frequent incursions by 'Israeli' settlers and security forces seen by Palestinians as part of a broader campaign to assert control over the compound.