Israeli so-called National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir desecrated Al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday, sparking outrage among Palestinian people, resistance groups and Jordan.
In a video recorded with the Dome of the Rock behind him, the extremist far-right minister broke into the holy mosque amid tight security measures by Israeli occupation forces, Israeli media reported.
Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque, heavily guarded by the IOF. pic.twitter.com/Orlu2JAL01
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) July 18, 2024
An official in the Islamic Endowments Department in occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem) reported that Ben Gvir took a provocative tour of the holy mosque’s courtyards.
The official, who preferred not to be identified, added that Israeli forces prevented Palestinian prayers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Israeli minister’s visit.
Ben Gvir broke into the holy mosque through its western Al-Mugharbah Gate area, which is usually used by illegal Israeli settlers to storm the mosque, Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported, citing local sources.
This is the fifth time he has forced his way into the mosque since becoming an Israeli minister in Dec. 2022.
Ben-Gvir, the head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), is notorious for inciting Israeli settlers to storm the mosque.
The extremist minister uploaded a video to his X account in which he called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “not to fold” on a “reckless” deal with Hamas resistance group.
Ultranationalist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the courtyards of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque this morning, calling for banning the entry of fuel into the Gaza Strip and reaffirming his rejection of an exchange deal with the Palestinian resistance. pic.twitter.com/WRXJvcXkak
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 18, 2024
Ben Gvir has repeatedly threatened to bolt the coalition if Netanyahu signs a deal with Hamas that ends the war on Gaza.
Outrage over the Visit
Palestinian groups denounced the visit, with the Islamic Jihad describing it as a “dangerous assault that reveals the Israeli occupation plans of Judaization.”
“The visit by the terrorist Ben Gvir, backed by the armed occupation police is a dangerous attack against the Palestinian people,” the Islamic Jihad resistance group said in a statement.
For its part, Hamas resistance movement said: “We condemn in the strongest terms the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque by the terrorist extremist Ben Gvir.”
The visit is considered “a dangerous provocation and escalation,” the statement read.
On the other hand, Jordan accused Ben Gvir of “violating the sanctity” of the site, which it maintains is “a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international law and the existing historical and legal situation in Al-Quds.”
Jordanian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sufyan Qudah said that the entire Haram Al-Sharif, one of the Muslim names for the holy mosque, is a purely Muslim site, arguing that the occupation authorities have no sovereignty over Al-Quds or its holy sites.
Source: Israeli and Palestinian media (translated and edited by Al-Manar English Website)
