Far-right 'Israeli' minister Ben-Gvir storms Aqsa Mosque amid police protection

'Israeli' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem early Wednesday, accompanied by dozens of settlers and protected by heavily armed 'Israeli' police.

According to the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Jerusalem, Ben-Gvir entered the courtyards of the mosque under tight security measures enforced by 'Israeli' forces, including special units. It marks his eighth intrusion into the site since joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government in 2022.

Eyewitnesses and local sources reported that groups of settlers entered the compound from the Moroccan Gate (Bab al-Maghariba), performed provocative tours, and received briefings about the so-called “Temple Mount.” Some were seen performing open Talmudic rituals near the eastern section of the mosque before exiting through the Chain Gate (Bab al-Silsila).

The incursion was led by Ben-Gvir alongside senior Israeli police officers, drawing widespread condemnation from Palestinians in Jerusalem. The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs described the move as a serious provocation and a deliberate escalation.

In parallel, 'Israeli' police intensified their restrictions at the mosque’s entrances, preventing many Palestinians from entering or praying. Several worshippers had their ID cards confiscated, while others were delayed or turned away entirely—a continuation of long-standing measures aimed at tightening 'Israeli' control over the holy site.

The Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam, is frequently targeted by settler incursions, often under police escort, in actions widely seen by Palestinians as attempts to change the religious and historical status quo.